Alan Shearer has branded one Manchester United man a “damaged player” following the club’s 1-0 loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United recorded their 15th Premier League defeat of the season as Rúben Amorim’s side fell 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a lackluster affair at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
Wolves started strong, looking to dominate away from home, but the opening 25 minutes were uneventful, with neither side registering a shot on target.
United slowly grew into the game, and the tempo increased, but neither team was able to break the deadlock by halftime, with Kobbie Mainoo’s shot narrowly missing the target.
The first real opportunity of the second half came for Rasmus Højlund, who was through on goal but failed to make a decisive move, and his attempt was blocked. Wolves then took the lead 15 minutes from time when Pablo Sarabia curled a superb free-kick past André Onana.
United pressed for an equaliser in the final moments, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t find a way through, leaving Amorim’s team to suffer yet another defeat at Old Trafford.
Shearer issues damning verdict on Højlund
Following the fixture, United’s striker Højlund has been the player who has caught the most flak for a “terrible” performance at Old Trafford, which saw him once again fail to score.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, former Premier League striker has issued his verdict on Højlund, calling the Dane a “damaged player” who does not have what it takes to lead the line at United.
“I’m looking at a damaged player in Højlund,” Shearer declared. “I think he wasn’t ready and isn’t ready to lead the line at a club like Manchester United.
“Three Premier League goals, and at the minute, I’m seeing a player that doesn’t really want to get in there. He’s perhaps a second too early or a second too late, and his timing is all wrong. I think there’s no doubt he’s (suffering from) a crisis in confidence.”
Højlund’s transfer set him up for failure
Speaking further, Shearer explained that he feels United’s purchase of Højlund for £72 million from Atalanta in 2023 put the player in an immediately difficult position considering his raw talent, and that asking him to lead the line at this stage in his career set him up for failure.
“He’s been put into a really difficult situation at a club where, unless you’re exceptional, to lead the line for the football club, you have to be really talented,” Shearer continued.
“He’s not at the stage of his career where he should be leading the line. I’m not saying there’s not a good player in there, I think there is a good player in there. But the pressure that’s on him in terms of doing what he can’t do and also the price-tag, he’s not ready to lead the line as yet.”
The question has been posed of late whether it would have been smarter to sign a second, more experienced striker alongside Højlund to help guide the 22-year-old.
Although it may be too late for him, the club could sign an experienced striker this summer for young Chido Obi to learn from as the 17-year-old embeds himself at Old Trafford.
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