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It might not be an exaggeration to say that Manchester United's season, its success or failure, trusted Rasmus Hjölund's adjustment to his new membership.
This has confirmed true, with United struggling when Hjölund couldn't purchase a objective within the league, then succeeding when he began scoring, then struggling once more after his harm.
But, contemplating the larger image, the Dane has defied expectations as a 20-year-old participant taking part in solely his second season in a European top-five league.
As a equally precocious teen who burst onto the stage in thrilling style, Owen's help of Hjolund's efficiency might be music to his ears.
In an unique interview with The Individuals's Particular person performed by Bettides, Owen mentioned that Hjolund was thrown into the deep finish in lower than ultimate circumstances, however that he has navigated properly.
He mentioned: “Wanting on the state of affairs at Manchester United, Hjolund got here in and performed on a regular basis. He’s anticipated to stay a celebrity and rating on a regular basis.
“He’s nonetheless a younger participant who’s studying the sport and he’s not the whole package deal. It isn’t simple for any participant to be in any place at Manchester United in the meanwhile.”
There was a significant criticism at United after the summer season, that Hjölund is likely to be controversial as first-choice, however his planning as the one choice was extraordinarily poor. Owen agrees with that viewpoint, recalling high United groups who had a humiliation of riches.
He mentioned: “I steered earlier that you must have an important striker and then you definately herald Hjolund to enrich him, be taught from him and play a bit for a season or two.
“At the moment, you’re taking part in a participant who doesn't even need to play there (Rashford as a striker). You take a look at nice Manchester United groups like York, Cole, Sheringham and Solskjaer, and you discover 4 wonderful gamers who all supply one thing totally different.
Whereas Owen acknowledged the truth that soccer has modified, and groups now hardly ever play with two strikers, conserving just one substitute all through the season was not a clever transfer, given Rashford's struggles this season. Apparently, one thing Owen needed to do. Intimately right here.
Finally, Ten Hag even technically admitted the error when he revealed that the membership labored arduous to get a promising reinforcement within the winter window.
Nonetheless, the January window is much more troublesome than the summer season and the membership needed to be at their finest in favor of Hjölund.
It could have been a chance that triggered Ten Hag to lose his job, making one other assertion from Michael Owen prophetic.