With Ruben Amorim’s hyper-attacking play, it should be the optimal working conditions for strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, two players Manchester United have invested around £109 million in. Now center back Lisandro Martinez demands the duo sharpen up.
This comes after the liberating, match-winning goal by the Argentine against Fulham, against Liverpool Martinez was behind one of the goals that gave the points to Liverpool.
Hojlund has not scored in his last 11 games, Zirkzee has not scored in the Premier League since the start of December. Against Fulham, the Dane was on the pitch for 58 minutes without scoring, the Dutchman the same in his 32 minutes on the pitch.
“We take responsibility. I think we played a lot of long balls to them [against Fulham] and for them it was very tough. They’re fighting two centre-backs and the centre-backs here in the Premier League are very difficult if you’re trying to win the ball,” goalscorer Lisandro begins, according to Goal.
In other words, a bit of self-criticism to the rest of the United team. Then comes “sharpen up!” part of Martinez’s speech.
-But they have to do better too… it comes from the Argentine winner’s skull.
We end with Manchester United’s top scorers list in the Premier League, a list that confirms that United’s strikers are far from the level the club needs to have at the top:
Diallo – 6 goals
Fernandes – 5 goals
Rashford, Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee – 3 goals
Rasmus Højlund, Martinez – 2 goals