Rasmus Højlund: ‘It’s by working a lot that you become a killer’ | OneFootball

In his debut season at Manchester United Rasmus Højlund (21) has shown glimpses of the player that the club were so keen to transplant from Atalanta last summer.

The Danish forward was quickly written off after his first few months in England as just another expensive mistake from a scouting department that has made more than a few costly missteps. However, this judgement was perhaps a little premature for a young player still adjusting to life in a new country.

His goal return has perhaps not been exactly what United fans were hoping for when they signed the striker, as he has only found the net 15 times across 41 appearances, although five goals in the club’s ill-fated Champions League campaign showed promise.

And promise has been the keyword around Højlund, as there has long been the sense that the player has the potential to become an exceptional forward. He has the technical and physical attributes to terrorise defenders, the question now is whether he will take those next few steps in the years to come.

Rasmus Højlund – ‘My approach to the game became a lot more professional’

Speaking to France Football, the forward emphasised his commitment to improving his game, as he explained, “When I was little I scored a lot of goals. I always did. But it’s by working a lot that you become a killer, by repeating the drills: right foot, left foot, volleys, shoulder positioning. And then as you grow up, you also become much better off the field.”

Højlund continued, “Here in Manchester that’s what happened, my approach to the game became a lot more professional. I learned one thing you have to be very fresh on the match day. I know my level, I know that I can play very well. But if I recover badly, with the matches that we have every three days here then it can be complicated.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland