31 January 2024 , 11:56
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Dimitar Berbatov has urged Rasmus Hojlund to tell his Manchester United team-mates to 'give me the f***ing ball' as he struggles to make his mark at Old Trafford.
The striker has scored just two goals in the Premier League since United paid £72million to sign him in the summer window. He was able to get on the scoresheet as the Red Devils beat League Two Newport on Sunday, though that only came in the 94th minute.
Despite his struggles, the Dane has retained his place in United's starting line-up. And Red Devils icon Berbatov has now insisted Hojlund is not totally to blame for his failures in front of goal.
Instead, the two-time Premier League winner believes that United's wingers need to start pulling their weight. Berbatov specifically pointed the finger at Antony and Alejandro Garnacho, who have just two assists in the top-flight between them this term.
"Antony and Garnacho are not providing much for Rasmus Hojlund at the minute, are they? I saw frustration in Hojlund in the last match. I saw Hojlund making runs and the ball was not coming to him. This is how football is sometimes," he told Betfair.
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"If this was Benzema with what he’s achieved in football, it would be enough for Garnacho and Antony to respect him even more and to know when they get the ball, they need to cross it straight away to Benzema.
"That’s how the authority and reputation of a player can influence you. Hojlund is not yet there - and because of this, sometimes he doesn’t get the service he needs because his reputation in football is not that big.
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Hojlund has scored just two goals in the Premier League (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)"When it’s not, then the wingers will try to make themselves look good rather than cross the ball to Hojlund to score and take the glory. That’s sometimes okay, but most of the time, when your teammate is in a better scoring position than you, you cross the ball.
"You make him look good because the whole team will benefit, especially if he’s a striker because strikers’ egos and moods depend on the goals they’re scoring. When you’re a winger, one of your most important jobs is to beat people and cross the ball."
Berbatov urged Hojlund to "get angry" with his team-mates, screaming and swearing at them if neccessary, in order to get the ball quicker. He insisted the striker cannot be afraid as he strives to turn his United career around.
"He must be angry. He needs to be angry. Don’t be shy. On the pitch, scream, yell, swear, show aggression towards your teammates that you’re demanding the ball. You’re making runs for your teammates and they need to respect the runs and give you the ball," he said.
"Don’t be afraid. You need to say, ‘guys, I’m here to score goals - give me the f***ing ball’. Of course, nobody needs to take this personally, this is and it always will be professional. When you step on to the pitch you respect your teammates for the runs they make.
"Especially if they're a striker, give him the ball. He’s going to make runs, but at one point he’s going to be like, ‘I’m not going to run anymore because the ball isn’t coming’. But also, this is also down to the manager and coaches - they need to step up."