Rasmus Hojlund has opened up on the pressure of playing for Manchester United and said he felt he was under a “curse” waiting for his first Premier League goal.
Hojlund was signed by United from Atalanta last summer for £72million, after the club were priced out of a move for Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich for £100m.
Arriving at United carrying an injury, it took Hojlund 14 games to notch his first Premier League goal, with the 20-year-old Denmark international having scored 14 in all competitions.
Leading United's attack at such a relatively young age was a burden for Hojlund, who admitted waiting so long for his first Premier League was tough to take.
"You feel an incredible amount of pressure when you're at Manchester United,” said Hojlund. "It took some time for me to get going in the Premier League, but I think I've caught up quite well. I feel like I've found my rhythm.
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“It was a frustrating time leading up to my first goal in the Premier League, because I felt there was a lot of focus on it. But of course, I understand that it's not impressive not to score a single goal in your first 14 Premier League matches, but I felt that bad luck was on my side in the league games. Fortunately, it got better.
“When I scored against Aston Villa, I felt like the curse had lifted a bit. It was a good day because I scored my first goal, and we beat a really good team.
"Personally, it's been a fine year for me, and I've tried a lot of things. I've played in the Premier League and the Champions League, and that's something I've always dreamed of.”
Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League against Aston Villa (PA)Hojlund admitted it took him time to settle at United and understand the unique demands of playing for the world's biggest club – on and off the pitch.
"I remember one of the first days when I was walking around the city with my girlfriend, and there were paparazzi photographers on the street,” said Hojlund. “I thought 'Wow, do people really care to see pictures of me just walking around?'
“There are eyes on you all the time, on and off the pitch, because the club is so huge. It takes some time to get used to it.
"I've always wanted to get here, and it's not that it isn't great, but there is definitely also a downside. You don't have the same freedom in your vocabulary and generally in everyday life. You can't always say what's on your mind, because it can be taken out of context.
"I do miss that part – being able to be at peace and act like an idiot if that's what you want. I do miss being able to mind my own business without thinking about whether someone is listening and keeping up with where Rasmus Højlund is now. But I've enjoyed it and am already looking forward to next season.”
Reflecting on his performances on the pitch, Hojlund admitted he had been frustrated at times at not receiving the ball as often as he would have liked.
“I feel like I get the ball if I'm in the right positions,” Hojlund told Tipsbladet. “I would have liked to get the ball a bit more sometimes, but that's just not always possible.”
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