(Courtesy: Manchester Evening News)
The 2023/24 Premier League campaign has come to an end, as Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United finished eighth with sixty points in their lowest place finish since the 1988/89 season, two points more than the Red Devil’s side who had their worst ever season two seasons ago.
In a season full of ups and downs for the Dutchman’s side, including the long-drawn-out minority takeover saga involving Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Sports group, the toxicity of player power and the squad getting dismantled by a horrific number of injuries, Manchester United finished the season strongly by beating Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton 2-0 at the Amex Stadium in their last Premier League fixture, with Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Højlund scoring the only goals in an evenly entertaining game of football between both sides.
The Dane international ended his 10-game goal drought in Manchester United’s last Premier League home game of the season against Newcastle, following his introduction from off the bench. Moments after Dalot’s well timed finish through a brilliant long ball from Casemiro, Højlund late on sealed United the three points to end their dismal Premier League season to remember, becoming the youngest player to reach double figures in 2023-24 (21 years old, 105 days). Two goals in two games for Højlund should give ten Hag a selection headache to consider starting his top scorer in a significant game that could define the 53-year old’s future.
“With Rasmus Højlund in behind and in form, it is absolutely something we have to consider, said ten Hag.
“Let’s have a thought, but let’s not say we only need 11 players. In a tough final, you need a bench as well.”
Prior the sacking of Erik ten Hag’s predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjær, there had been some question marks over the recruitment team’s strategy of buying strikers in their early-late thirties when the Norwegian was in charge. Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo without a doubt were good signings from a performance point of view in the short term, but United haven’t showed any efficiency to sign a younger striker who would develop in a team that could compete for the major honours in the long term.
When transferring from Serie A side Atalanta in a deal worth £72 million, the addition of Rasmus Højlund excited the United fanbase with the skills he brings as a modern-day out and out number nine, such as his explosive pace, physicality, strength, holdup play and clinical finishing ability. Strikers who are in earlier stages of their careers have raw skills and qualities that haven’t been improved until they reach their prime years.
However, factors like his inexperience, different players around him and a lack of service have stagnated Højlund’s development throughout the season. The 21-year-old was sat in 108th place for shots per ninety with 38 shots in the 2023/24 Premier League season via the Premier League website, highlighting the issues Højlund faces in the tactical setup under ten Hag with no creativity to help him score more goal scoring opportunities on a consistent basis. In comparison to Højlund, the Premier League’s top scorer Erling Haaland was ranked in 1st place with 121 shots.
On Rasmus Højlund, ten Hag said: “He came in with an injury and missed the start, then he got injured before winter, then got another injury after winter.
“Every time that has broken his rhythm. If you score 16 goals for a first season, it is okay, and remember it is not over. We have the final too.”
While ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford has been very uncertain since INEOS took control of the footballing department, his signings have embodied what team he would want to build by creating a technically dominant, high pressing, transitional side to emulate the great successes of his Ajax sides during his tenure at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Whoever manages the dugout next season, whether that be ten Hag or his successor, will have an exceptional talent in Rasmus Højlund, developing him into the world class striker who can score 20-40 goals per season and helping United to close the gap on their rivals to clinch greatness again.
Manchester United will now face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a hugely anticipated FA Cup final, in a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final where they lost 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.
A chance of FA Cup glory against the juggernaut in Manchester City could be a strong possibility for Manchester United to gift the fans with optimism ahead of a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the upcoming 2024/25 campaign at the Theatre of Dreams.
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