Manchester United's 2024/25 campaign has been nothing short of a horror show. The vaunted English monster of yore is now the club's resident basement dweller in 14th place, with its challengers leaving it behind as the squad struggles on middling terms with unimpressive results. Yet if there's one overall poor performer at which most blame will cling, there's just one name, it follows: Rasmus Højlund.
The Danish striker came to Old Trafford on a sky-high pedestal of hope, but today he's in the midst of a goal-drying drought on the verge of the ridiculous. Nineteen consecutive games with nothing to his name. Drought that unveils not only his individual adversity but also the absolute pandemonium at United.
Promising millions for an insoluble dilemma
When Manchester United signed Højlund for £72 million, fans dreamed of a new goal-scoring machine, a man to lead the attack and restore the club to its glory days. After all, he was young, physically explosive, technically talented, and full of promise.
But then reality caught up. Since December 12, when he scored twice in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen, the striker has been out of sight. Nineteen games on, and the ball still refuses to go into the net.
It's not like he has not had chances. Højlund started 15 of them and came off the bench in four as a substitute. And while United are struggling, it's not a team short of attacking output. But whatever the problem, whether it's a lack of confidence, nerves, or technique, the No. 9 simply cannot convert his chances into goals.
The numbers tell a dire tale: seven goals in 40 matches to date this year, a below-par return for a player recruited to be the lead goalscorer. A year ago, for comparison, he had 16 goals from 43 matches.
United's malaise runs deeper than Højlund
If Højlund's struggles are concerning, Manchester United's overall situation is disastrous. Under manager Rúben Amorim, the team keeps on plummeting and is now embarrassingly placed 14th in the Premier League with only 33 points. Meanwhile, arch-nemesis like Arsenal and Liverpool are battling for the top spots.
United's problems are much deeper than a errant forward. This is a side that is short of identity, balance, and confidence. The defense is poor, the midfield is uninspired, and the attack is not working. The result? A sequence of underwhelming performances and a league position that, three years ago, would have been unthinkable for a club of this quality.
United's venture is mired in the past. Multimillion-pound signings have not solved the structural issues of the team, managerial changes have become commonplace, and fans who once watched legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Ruud van Nistelrooy now question whether there is anyone who can take this team to the finish line when it matters.