In a dramatic and intense 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton, Manchester United found themselves reigniting their Premier League form, but the win came with a cloud of controversy. While Amad Diallo stole the spotlight with an incredible second-half hat-trick—scoring three goals in just 12 minutes—one player found himself at the center of a growing storm: Rasmus Højlund.
Despite the Red Devils’ impressive victory, which saw them bounce back after conceding an early goal, fans were less than impressed with Højlund’s performance. The Danish striker, who had been heavily relied upon to lead the attack, was substituted just minutes after halftime, leaving many supporters voicing their frustration. Højlund, who had barely made an impact on the match, was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee, and the substitution seemed to spark Manchester United’s late surge, leading to a dramatic turnaround.
On social media, Manchester United fans were vocal in their criticism of Højlund, with many expressing their disappointment over his lackluster performance. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Done with Højlund now. I thought this system might have worked for him, but another game ghosted.” Others were equally scathing, with one calling him “cowardly” for allegedly trying to win free kicks rather than challenging defenders head-on, and another labeling him the “worst centre forward to play for United in my lifetime.”
The backlash was swift and intense, with some suggesting that Højlund’s hold-up play was nonexistent, while others argued that claims of him receiving little service were simply not true. “His movement has been absolutely atrocious,” one fan fumed, adding fuel to the fire of discontent.
Despite the victory, it seems that Højlund’s position at Manchester United is now under serious scrutiny, as fans demand more from their striker. With the pressure mounting, only time will tell if he can silence the growing criticism and live up to the high expectations placed on him.