Roy Keane criticised Ian Wright and Roberto Martinez for being ‘too kind’ in their assessment of Rasmus Hojlund’s performance after the Dane missed a host of chances in the first half of Manchester United’s 2-0 win in the FA Cup on Monday night.
United led at the break courtesy of a fine finish from Diogo Dalot, but Hojlund was central to many chances which went begging for Erik ten Hag’s men.
Speaking on ITV at half-time, Ian Wright and Roberto Martinez felt that the Danish striker had to do more to finish those opportunities when they came his way but were sympathetic with his struggles.
‘I heard Ally [McCoist] say you feel for him, and as a striker you do. But there’s some of the chances what we’ve seen in this game you have to take them,’ the former Arsenal striker said at half-time.
Fellow pundit Roberto Martinez echoed Wright’s thoughts:
‘He’s such a committed player and gives you so much,’ he said.
‘I think it’s unfair now just to judge him on goals but of course he’s a No. 9 for Manchester United, he has a big price tag.
Keane, however, disagreed and insisted Hojlund’s teammates would have every right to be annoyed with the striker, who has hitherto scored just once in 18 appearances in domestic competitions.
‘You’re too kind, you’re too kind, I’d be fuming with him,’ the former United captain said.
‘Tonight, they [Man United] brought their habits from the Premier League in terms of missing chances, not being clinical. I want to see that side of United tonight.
‘With the striker, he’s missing his chances, so we can say unlucky, oh dear. Create opportunities, put them in the back of the net, stop messing about!’
A header from close range which went over the bar was an opportunity that Wright highlighted at the break.
‘This one is the one where I would be losing sleep over because you could see it all the way over on your head,’ he said.
‘He’s got a good position here all the way on his head just as he’s gonna head it. He puts his head down it’s comes up the top of his head. He’s got to come off his forehead. You’ve got to you got to punch that forward.’
Another saw the ball bounce awkwardly off Hojlund in front of an open goal while he was four yards out, a chance that might have fallen differently if he was not under pressure to deliver the goods for Man United.
Wright said: ‘I think this one which is really unlucky for him because it comes really late and it bounced off his knee by the time it comes in.
‘But again you have to be aware of it but again this one for me it’s just it’s just the time he’s in at the minute, you asked them if taking those chances.’
While praising Hojlund’s work-rate, Martinez conceded the Dane needed to be more clinical.
‘You have to score those goals, but he is not doing anything wrong in those chances,’ he said.
‘Probably the header, he needs to look at the ball but the others in another moment a moment of confidence the ball hits you and goes into the back of the net.
‘The problem is as a coach that you don’t see the player getting into those positions in the next action.’
Shortly after the miss from four-yards out, McCoist, working as colour commentator for ITV, said: ‘Rashford does exceptionally well again. Cuts inside to his favoured right foot, smashes it.’
On the ball bouncing awkwardly to Hojlund, he added: ‘Wow. Anywhere on the target, anywhere on the target again, it’s a goal.
‘He’s got to keep going, he has to keep going.
‘I’m interested to see what Wrighty thinks about that one, but I think he has to be scoring that. You can argue it comes back a little bit quick, I get all that.’
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
