International boss defends Manchester United star as media claims starting role is “in danger”

Denmark international manager Brian Riemer has leapt to the defence of Rasmus Højlund after a sub-par display against Spain from the Manchester United striker.

Rasmus Højlund‘s career at Manchester United has been mixed since his £72 million move from Atalanta in 2023.

Signing under Erik ten Hag, Højlund started his maiden season at Old Trafford with five goals in the Champions League group stage, but failed to score in his opening 14 Premier League appearances.

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However, once the turn of 2024 hit, he found his form, eventually scoring 16 goals and finishing as the club’s top scorer.

But, in the 2024/25 campaign so far, the 21-year-old has missed the first six weeks due to injury and has scored just two goals in 12 appearances since his return.

Struggles with Denmark

Højlund is still a regular starter for Denmark, but as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Spain in the Nations League, boss Brian Riemer has to leap to Højlund’s defence following a fairly non-existent display.

“I think it’s hard to rate him on that match. We met a strong team, and it is not so easy to create chances against them,” said Riemer.

“I hope that we can help to serve Rasmus even better, because one of the criteria for scoring goals as a striker is also that you get some chances, and after all it has to come from both the wide and central points.

“We must all make ourselves better at helping Rasmus, Kasper Dolberg, Jonas Wind, Yussuf and whoever else can play forward to get chances in the Danish national team.

“It is one of the things I hope we can bring in when we meet teams that are perhaps at the level below Spain – that we create a lot more,” he also added.

Losing his place?

Reacting to the loss, Danish media explained that although they value his intensity and workrate – something regularly seen at United – he was missing a finishing touch, and his starting place with Denmark may be in danger.

TV2 commented: “Well, he fights and fights and takes so much trouble. But it’s been a long time since he looked dangerous in the national team. The safe starting place, which has belonged to Højlund for a year and a half, must really be in danger.”

DR Nyheder said: “A lot of hard work, very few touches of the ball and his only finish on goal was in an offside position. It is not working optimally with Højlund right now, but he is constantly contributing to the team.”

BT summarised his performance by saying: “It radiates from him how much he wants to succeed. And that’s why it hurts to see how rarely Højlund succeeds in the national team, where he hasn’t scored in over a year.

“He won his duels, but too often the next action or the first pass was imprecise. We miss him becoming really dangerous.”

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