Rio Ferdinand calls out 'slack' Rasmus Hojlund after Man Utd striker's dismal display vs Fulham & predicts team-mates will be 'having a word'

Hojlund's poor form in the 2024-25 campaign continued against Fulham on Sunday as the Danish forward extended his Premier League goal drought to eight matches. The striker featured in Ruben Amorim's starting lineup but lasted less than 60 minutes on the pitch as Joshua Zirkzee replaced him as the No.9.

On TNT Sports, presenter Lynsey Hipgrave informed pundit Rio Ferdinand that Hojlund was dispossessed 10 times in the first half, to which the United legend said: "That says it all. I would be surprised if he wasn’t getting a few fingers pointed at him in the changing room at half-time.

"Hold the ball up, keep the ball, you’re the platform for us to get up the pitch, far too often he’s too loose on the ball. He doesn’t do things quick enough, the amount of turnovers he’s had today… as I said, I’d be surprised if the players weren’t having a word with him. He needs to use his pace more. He was slack and loose in possession."

The former United defender added: "United can’t get out and get any good possession in the final third when their No. 9 isn’t able to hold the ball up. Most of United’s possession has been with the three centre-backs when there’s no pressure on the ball. Whenever there’s been pressure, United have turned the ball over."

When pressed on Hojlund's latest ineffective performance, head coach Ruben Amorim said: "He wants it really, really hard. Sometimes without training there is a disconnection. Without training sometimes he goes away when he should be near, and sometimes goes near when it should make a run. We don't have time to create that connection. We don't train these kind of things. We just talk about these things and of course, he has a lot to improve."

The Red Devils will hope to secure their place among the top eight teams in the Europa League on Thursday as they aim to end the league stage with a win over FCSB.