This season has been quite disappointing for Manchester United’s attacking line-up, with the team languishing as the fifth-lowest scorers in the Premier League.
Rasmus Hojlund has particularly underwhelmed, netting just twice in the league and currently enduring a dry spell that spans 16 games. The recent summer recruit, Joshua Zirkzee, has shown flashes of promise but struggles with inconsistency. Ruben Amorim has openly acknowledged that Zirkzee isn’t a natural fit for the No. 9 role.
With Marcus Rashford having departed the club, Amad sidelined for the season, and Alejandro Garnacho’s finishing proving unreliable, the pressure has heavily fallen on Hojlund and Zirkzee to justify their hefty combined transfer fee of £100 million. Unfortunately, they haven’t delivered as expected.
Some cite poor service to the strikers as a reason for their lackluster performance. Yet, in Hojlund’s case, he seems more preoccupied with physical battles against defenders than trying to outsmart them on the pitch.
Former United fan favorite Federico Macheda, who famously netted “that” winner against Aston Villa back in 2009, recently weighed in on the matter. Known as the “best finisher in the club” under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, Macheda stopped short of harsh criticism but suggested he might currently outperform Hojlund and Zirkzee.
“At 33? Sure, I think I could step in,” Macheda commented in an interview with The Sun. “Better? Hard to say. Playing for Manchester United isn’t easy right now, but I believe I’d still be capable of it.”
“I like Zirkzee and Hojlund personally. The club is under immense pressure, and it’s a tough ask for any striker in the current setup, even someone like Lewandowski.”
Currently playing in Greece for Asteras Tripolis, the 33-year-old Macheda keeps a close eye on his old club. Like many United fans, he feels the pain of watching their struggles but remains hopeful about a turnaround led by Amorim. He encourages INEOS to give this process time and emphasizes bringing in young talent to help rejuvenate the squad, moving away from the past trend of splashing out on high-profile transfers.
“I really support Amorim, despite the team’s struggles. For success, you need a roster filled with great players,” Macheda stated.
“United lacks the squad depth to win the Premier League currently. Good players are there, but even the best coaches couldn’t do much with them in the current state. Players like Bruno, Maguire, and Lisandro are leaders, but it’s insufficient.”
He proposed a return to United’s tradition of building with young players and maintaining the club’s historical ethos as the path forward. “If Amorim is trusted, given time, and empowered to bring in the right mix of youth, I’m optimistic about United’s prospects over the next few years.”
Fans are certainly hoping Macheda’s foresight becomes reality in the near future.
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