Manchester United will need Rasmus Hojlund to be the key player if they want to continue their season successfully.
The forward, who hasn’t been scoring many goals recently, has only managed to score seven goals in 35 games this season.
Hojlund, 22, is now expected to lead the attack in the Europa League match against Real Sociedad.
This is because young talent Chido Obi cannot play in the competition.
Obi will not be able to participate in the Europa League even if Manchester United advances beyond the match against the Spanish team.
ESPN reported that when the team submitted their list of players for the knockout stages, Obi was not included as part of the first team squad.
The submitted list did include new players signed in January, like Patrick Dorgu and young Ayden Heaven.
Teams in European competitions have two squad lists, A and B, but Obi was not on either list.
He also didn’t qualify for the B list, which is usually for younger players from the club’s academy.
This is because UEFA rules state that players must have been at the club for at least two years to be on the B list.
The fact that Hojlund has been performing well in Europe this season is a positive aspect for manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite struggling to score in domestic games, the former Atalanta striker has shown his ability in the Europa League.
Hojlund has scored five of his seven goals in this competition, even though he has only played eight times.
The Danish player scored twice against both Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen, and one goal against Porto.
In the 3-2 victory over Bodo/Glimt in November, Hojlund also provided an assist in addition to his two goals.
He has scored more Europa League goals than any of his teammates.
Only Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo, along with Hojlund, have scored more than one goal in the tournament.
He will need to perform at that level again if he is to rescue Manchester United’s season.
He struggled in the FA Cup match against Fulham, which Manchester United lost, and was replaced by Obi during that game.
Obi had a greater impact on the game compared to Hojlund, who was not very заметен.
Manchester United spent a large sum of £72 million to buy the striker in the summer of 2023.
He joined after a good season in Serie A, where he scored ten goals in 34 matches.
However, since moving to Old Trafford, his performance has declined, and he seems to lack confidence.
After the penalty shootout loss to Fulham, Amorim stated that the striker position is open for competition.
He mentioned that anything could change in the upcoming matches and training sessions.
He emphasized the need to assess the opposition, the players’ physical condition, and the busy schedule of games.
Amorim said he would focus on choosing the best players to win the next game, rather than making predetermined decisions about the striker position.
Progressing in the Europa League is crucial for Manchester United to salvage something positive from what has been a disappointing season.
The club has been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and is likely to finish lower in the Premier League than ever before.
Winning the Europa League would be a surprising achievement and would allow the club to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
