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Ten Hag’s Manchester United Tactical Dilemma: Hojlund, Zirkzee, or Both Up Front?

Manchester United have yet to discover the ideal recipe for their offence. Joshua Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund? Who should lead Manchester United's attack as they look to capitalise on the numerous opportunities they are creating?

By Daniel Onguko

Crystal Palace FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League
Crystal Palace FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League / Peter Nicholls/GettyImages
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Rasmus Hojlund returned to Manchester United's matchday squad last weekend, but he had to sit on the bench as Joshua Zirkzee led the attack. During a pre-season match between Manchester United and Arsenal in the United States, the Danish striker sustained an injury.

On Saturday, he returned to the bench and appeared briefly in the 0-0 tie between Manchester United and Crystal Palace. Even so, Hojlund's injury had forced him to miss the first four league games of the season (with only a cameo appearance in the fifth). Coincidentally, in this run of games, United had superior performances and produced numerous opportunities, but they struggled to convert them (they've wasted the most chances, 17, in the PL).

Joshua Zirkzee, who has been leading the Manchester United attack, has done everything right but score goals. His link-up play, ability with the ball at his feet, and ability to cover so much territory as he tries to get involved in the build-up have helped Manchester United's offence remain fluid, despite the fact that goals have been few.


Manchester United need goals; could Hojlund give that?


Hojlund will soon be up to speed and ready to make the United starting lineup, so will he bench Zirkzee? Despite a rocky start at Manchester, Hojlund demonstrated hints of his goal-scoring brilliance in the Champions League; he scored 5 goals in 6 games, including a run of seven goals in six consecutive league games (that saw him score 10 league goals in 30 games).

The Danish international is capable of scoring goals. Either way, starting him and dropping Zirkzee risks losing the fluidity the Dutchman has brought to the Manchester United assault.


Formation change?


Could Ten Hag eventually choose to start with a front two of Hojlund and Zirkzee to address his team's offensive issues? The United boss has already intimated that the two can play together.

He told Sky Sports: "Højlund and Zirkzee can play together in one lineup, also they can rotate for each other, so we have good options there."

If they both start, it could drastically change United's setup. It's possible that United will need to change formation. If I were Ten Hag, I'd play a 3-5-2 formation with three central defenders, a fullback, three midfielders, two wingers, and a front two of Hojlund and Zirkzee. However, I would only wish this strategy was used occasionally, not in every game.


That being said, it will be interesting to see how Rasmus Hojlund fits into this rejuvenated Manchester United team, which, if it starts scoring goals easily, could be a formidable force.

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