Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has revealed that club legend and assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is having a positive impact on the whole squad “every day”.
Van Nistelrooy’s summer return to Old Trafford, 18 years after he left as a player, excited fans given his cult status and burgeoning coaching career.
Given his record as a player – 150 goals in five seasons with United – many people had hoped to see the Dutchman rub off on Hojlund, who remains a raw and unpolished talent at the age of still just 21.
“Everybody’s asking me this question. He’s helping us every day, but he’s also helping the defence and the midfield,” Hojlund said, via the Manchester Evening News.
“He’s a very good assistant coach, but obviously, he’s a great striker. You’re trying to learn everything about him and all these sort of things. I haven’t had that long to learn from him yet because I haven’t been back for a little more than a month or so. But obviously, he’s given me a lot of good advice.”
Hojlund started the season injured due to a hamstring problem suffered while on the club’s summer tour. The Dane has been feeling his way back in, with Saturday’s Premier League win over Brentford his first start at Old Trafford of the new campaign.
“I tried to focus on [the fact] that I’m very privileged to be a professional footballer. Obviously, there’s downsides and upsides, and we get critics, but also sometimes we are superstars but all in all, I’m living the dream every day,” he reflected on being sidelined and waiting to come back.
“I’m playing for Manchester United, and having the number nine on [my] back, it’s a good life. I just tried to focus on that part, and also I could focus on everything else instead. Trying to be even fitter for when I come back, doing my recovery even better. I think I’m in a great spot right now.”
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