Harry Maguire has demanded Manchester United “find a solution” to Rasmus Hojlund’s injury after a 2-1 loss at home to Fulham.
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The Cottagers secured only their second victory at Old Trafford since 1963 thanks to goals from Calvin Bassey and a stoppage time winner from Alex Iwobi, who cancelled out Maguire’s 89th-minute equaliser. After the match, the England defender said they missed their “focal point” Hojlund in attack but as a team they need to all step up after looking toothless in attack against Fulham on Saturday.
The 30-year-old said: “We got hit by the injury to Rasmus [Hojlund], who has been big focal point for us but it is up to us to find the solutions and the areas we need to improve on. He has been our focal point, we can play into him, he holds it up, he starts the press really well, not only that but Marcus [Rashford] has been playing really well on the left. It’s the story of our season, we’ve been injury-hit – as other teams have – and we need to find a solution quick.”
Mere days after new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe set his sights on usurping Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, United saw their four-match winning streak ended by a dogged Fulham. While the Red Devils had 57 per cent possession and 21 shots to the visitors’ 17, they only scored from one of their nine efforts on target. Without the injured Anthony Martial – who admittedly has failed to fire for a long time at Old Trafford – and Hojlund, who had scored in six straight games before his injury, manager Erik ten Hag will have to find another way to unlock opposition defences.
United will take a break from Premier League action on Wednesday when they travel to Nottingham Forest in round five of the FA Cup, before facing off against rivals Manchester City in the English top-flight on March 3.
