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Erik ten Hag hopes this season will be one in which he can build on the foundations laid last time round. Whether it turns out that way may depend in part on how quickly centre forward Rasmus Hojlund adapts to the Premier League.
For the Manchester United boss, the final day of the summer transfer window was a bits-and-pieces affair, one spent plugging holes caused by recent injuries.
Left back Sergio Reguilon arrived on loan from Tottenham as a stand-in for Luke Shaw while Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat followed from Fiorentina to bolster Ten Hag’s options at the base of midfield.
‘We had a good training week and on Saturday we have the final training,’ said Ten Hag on Friday. ‘He is doing well, so he will be available. He is ready to start. I think for every player there is a big spotlight. At United, you have to perform. Every position, every player.’
Rasmus has been kept out of the action since his £72m arrival with a back complaint
Erik ten Hag will hope he can bring goals to help build on the foundations of last season
Sergio Reguilon was signed on a loan on deadline day to ease the club’s issues at left back
It’s early days in United’s season. In winning two games and losing one at Tottenham, Ten Hag’s team have picked up more points than their displays have deserved. But they started last season poorly, too, and ended in third place having also won the Carabao Cup.
This time, it already feels like goals from Hojlund will be fundamental to their chances. Last season, Marcus Rashford contributed 17 in the league while Bruno Fernandes was the club’s second-top scorer with eight.
Set to be restored to his favoured position on the left of a forward three, it is a lot to expect Rashford to contribute that kind of number again and, though Ten Hag sought to play it down yesterday, the responsibility on Hojlund’s shoulders will be considerable.
After all, who else is there? Anthony Martial has somehow played 300 games for the club he joined eight years ago but the Frenchman would not get anywhere near the first team at Manchester City or Liverpool. Last season he scored six in the league and that feels about his level.
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But United’s message on Friday was an upbeat one. They have, they feel, had a good window. Ten Hag is a good coach and his team will have their days. But whether they have the depth, or indeed the mentality, to churn out consistent results are questions that continue to follow them around.
Ten Hag’s squad certainly looks different heading to north London on Sunday than the Dutchman would have expected only a couple of weeks ago. Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay are still in it, for example. Ten Hag had wanted to sell both players but, now that injuries have struck, he will doubtless be glad it didn’t happen. Both can expect minutes over the coming weeks.
The Danish striker’s goals are set to play a crucial role in the club’s prospects this season
Anthony Martial is the only other striker in reserve behind Hojlund at Manchester United
Sofyan Amrabat underwent a medical at Manchester United on transfer deadline day
Last season at the Emirates, United lost a thrilling game 3-2. It was one of those days that saw Ten Hag’s team threaten to upset an Arsenal side who were chasing the Premier League title but ultimately served only to confirm some enduring weaknesses.
United will feel they have upgraded their goalkeeper — Cameroon’s Andre Onana has started well — but with Mason Mount absent injured and Raphael Varane also unfit it is hard to say the side who will turn out tomorrow is greatly better on paper than last season’s version.
Denmark striker Hojlund is a hugely talented footballer who has been talked about excitedly across Europe for a couple of seasons.
He is not the finished article, though. He is not Harry Kane, or even Ivan Toney. If he gets going quickly tomorrow, that would be a shot in the arm for a manager who is already looking as though he could do with one.
