Rasmus Højlund was not good enough for Manchester United. This was true until January. The young Dane cost NOK 830 million, and for that kind of money a striker must score from day one. How many did Højlund score in the first 14 league games? 0 goals. Zero. Awful. Hopeless. Crisis. The story of Højlund says a lot about football in 2024. Shot from the hip Since the new year, three of the Premier League’s “floppers” have suddenly found form. All three were criticized and hanged in the autumn, including Højlund. Some of the fans pointed out that he worked hard and scored in the Champions League, and that he was a young guy in a team that hardly created chances, signed from Italy, where the style of play is different. But others believed that Højlund was too fresh and too weak, and when the ball entered the box, he was always a boot too late. On British television, the legendary Graeme Souness said that United had taken a “big chance” by buying Højlund. He didn’t mean it positively. Jamie Carragher felt sorry for the Dane, but added that no striker at United gets a lot of time. But Højlund got time. Coach Erik ten Hag supported him and had no better forwards to throw in anyway. Against Aston Villa on 26 December, Højlund scored his first league goal. When Højlund celebrated, he was almost in tears. MATCH WINNER: Rasmus Højlund scored the decisive goal when Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3–2 in December. Photo: OLI SCARFF / AFP Imagine what it’s like to play for Manchester United. Twice a week, Højlund was analyzed by fans, the press and hundreds of millions later. His figures were published and debated. Video clips of poor touches and missed chances circulated online. Fans fired from the hip on social media. United claim to have more than one billion fans worldwide. You have to live with this pressure as a 20-year-old. So when Højlund got his goal, the relief must have been enormous. Since then, Højlund has scored seven goals in seven games and became the Premier League player of the month for February. When he was injured two weeks ago, everyone thought he would be a big miss. It’s easy to forget that footballers are people. Good in training Kai Havertz seemed lost when he joined Arsenal last summer. The elegant playmaker was brought in from Chelsea for NOK 890 million, but even coach Mikel Arteta didn’t seem sure where he fit into the team. After 19 games, Havertz had one goal, one assist and five yellow cards. There were already rumors that Arsenal wanted to sell him. CANCELED: Few had faith in Kai Havertz at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta had it, though, and is starting to get paid well. Photo: DAVID KLEIN / Reuters But in September, Arteta said that Havertz was good in training and that he just needed an arm around his shoulder. Since then, Havertz has been given chance after chance after chance – and only in recent weeks has he delivered. On Saturday, Havertz scored a late winner against Brentford that sent Arsenal to the top of the table. In the role of striker, Havertz has been involved in six goals in four games. Many have thought a lot about Havertz. No one has known him as well as Arteta. Onana’s worst hits But not even Havertz has been through as much as André Onana. In the autumn, the goalkeeper from Cameroon was described as a bargain purchase for NOK 580 million. Shots slipped through the gloves, plays went straight to opponents, and in the Champions League he was responsible for several of the 15 late goals that dragged United down to a disastrous last place in the group. Masturbation is usually not that bad. The previous season he had been in goal when Inter reached the final in the same tournament. But get the chatter that Onana was a new goalkeeper in a new league, behind a shaky defense that constantly changed personnel due to injuries. Some thought that United should bring back David de Gea. On YouTube, people made videos of Onana’s blunders, and even the TV station Bein Sports posted a summary of Onana’s worst hits. HARD TIME: Andre Onana had a tough start to life as a Manchester United goalkeeper. Here from one of the autumn’s lows, against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Photo: ANGELIKA WARMUTH / Reuters But Onana received support from Ten Hag, and has gradually disappeared from the spotlight. Now the general opinion about Onana has turned around. The figures from the website FBref show that Onana has prevented four goals more than expected, which places him among the three best shot stoppers in the Premier League. Onana has also saved the third highest percentage of shots on goal (74.5%). What has changed? Nothing but that Onana has found her way. He says he needed six or seven months to play well – and to feel good. Judgment can wait This can be a lesson for us on the outside. Now that the season has lasted eight months, this is perhaps the period we should wait before passing judgment on a new signing. During this period, the players can settle down. They can find a home, a school for the children, and their own places in the troop’s social hierarchy. When Liverpool’s new ball-winner Wataru Endo struggled in the autumn, coach Jürgen Klopp reminded that the team’s left-back Andy Robertson hardly played for Liverpool in the first six months after he was signed. – We have had many such examples before, said Klopp. Against Manchester City this Sunday, Endo was one of the pitch’s giants. BIG GAME: Liverpool’s Wataru Endo had an excellent game against Manchester City. Here in a duel with Kevin De Bruyne. Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters Klopp and Arteta have protected their players from the short-sightedness that rages outside the doors. The fans want to win today. The journalists write for the paper tomorrow. Klopp and Arteta must look months and years ahead. Part of the coaches’ job is to keep calm when the storm is at its worst. Of course, some players never strike, no matter how long you wait. But often bad form is about more than what happens on the pitch. In the last six months, neither Højlund, Havertz nor Onana has become much stronger, faster or technically better. But as people, they are more comfortable. All they needed was a little extra time. VAR resistance is increasing: This is how video refereeing can be removed 02:02 This is where things go wrong: – Is it possible? 00:50 The Olympic champion says goodbye: – He is on the verge of tears before the race 00:39 The Brazil boss snorts at the Neymar comparison 00:48 Show more
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The heroes who were laughed at – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
