Article Written by Coby Rose
Introduction
Rasmus Hojlund and Viktor Gyokeres are two of Scandinavia's brightest striking talents. Gyokeres, a breakout star for Mark Robins' Coventry City, exploded onto the European stage under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim, while Hojlund, a young star from Atalanta, shows all the signs of a top striker but has struggled to perform in a disjointed Manchester United team.
Viktor Gyokeres has been on fire under Amorim, attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, and even Manchester United themselves, should you believe the reports. Amorim's system at Sporting CP was perfectly tailored to get the best out of his striker, which is a promising sign that he might do the same at Manchester United. This article will explore the potential for Hojlund to emulate Gyokeres' success under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
Similar Profiles: Traditional Number 9s
Gyokeres and Hojlund are of a similar profile and share many qualities. They're both traditional number 9s – big, strong, and quick. With 47 goals in 47 league games since moving to Portugal, Gyokeres has blossomed into one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. His highlight reel is filled with goals demonstrating immense pace and power and an ability to finish from all angles and with both feet.
He is intelligent with his box movement too, arriving in dangerous areas and losing his marker. These attributes, as well as his impressive physical frame, are part of what makes him such a threat—a threat that has been harnessed perfectly by Ruben Amorim himself.
This is why so many Manchester United fans are looking forward to the reign under the young Portuguese coach—because these are all attributes Rasmus Hojlund has in his locker too. We've seen many of these qualities result in goals last season, including great strikes vs Tottenham, Galatasaray, Brighton, and Newcastle. While he is yet to put up the kind of numbers like Gyokeres and establish himself as a top goal-scorer, his efficiency in front of goal, with a conversion rate of 26% to Gyokeres' 22% (since the start of last season), highlights his clinical nature, especially when considering his shot volume is half of that of the Swede's.
A comparison between Rasmus Hojlund and Victor Gyokeres.
Key Differences Between Gyokeres and Hojlund
However, there are many areas where Gyokeres excels way above Hojlund. His shot and chance-creation, possession, and passing metrics almost make a fool of the Manchester United striker.
Gyokeres' ability to hold up the ball, spin defenders, run the channels, and create for himself and his teammates is very impressive, racking up 11 assists from 4.51 shot-creating actions per 90 (SCAp90) at Sporting, compared to Hojlund's 2 assists from 2.41 SCAp90.
Hojlund's hold-up play isn't terrible, though. He's strong, but he doesn't use his body as well as he could. He likes to tussle with defenders and often gets too tight, causing him to be dispossessed or impotent with his passes. Gyokeres is much more involved in overall play, with more touches per 90 minutes (38.3) and touches in the attacking third per 90 (26.4) than Hojlund (25.4 & 12.2, respectively). Additionally, Hojlund is in the 7th percentile for both passes received and progressive passes received, a metric likely to improve under Amorim's system and better team support.
Mentality and Confidence: The Edge of Ruthlessness
One final factor that Gyokeres seems to have over Hojlund at the moment is that ruthlessness and hunger that we attribute to the very best goal-scorers. He has that steam train-like sprint, power, and confidence in his actions and battles with defenders.
Hojlund seems to have lost a bit of that. The lack of service seems to have hit his confidence, and he hasn't been moving with the same purpose as he did when he arrived in Manchester.
A Raw but Promising Talent
Having said that, the raw talent is clearly there. And he is raw. Very raw. At Hojlund's current age, Viktor Gyokeres had only just signed for Coventry from Brighton for just €1 million and wouldn't score more than 7 goals for another 2-3 years.
Hojlund has already doubled that tally in each of his last two seasons (10 in 22/23 & 16 in 23/24), not to mention, in two of Europe's best leagues: in Serie A for Atalanta and in the Premier League for Manchester United—an environment Gyokeres is yet to experience.
Raw Data: A Mixed Picture
Looking at the raw data, one would think Hojlund is nowhere near the level Gyokeres is. Last season, Gyokeres had more shots (3.54 vs. 1.5), more shots on target (1.67 vs. 0.8), and accumulated a higher expected goals (xG) of 1.04 compared to Hojlund's 0.38.
However, this doesn't tell the full story. Digging deeper reveals that Hojlund's efficiency in front of goal eclipsed that of the Swede, with more goals per shot (0.26 vs. 0.22) and a greater shot on target percentage (53.5% vs. 47.1%). Additionally, Hojlund boasts a slightly higher goals per shot on target ratio (0.48 vs. 0.47).
Even though he is not shooting and scoring as often, Hojlund is actually more productive with the shots that he does take. Now, I'm not saying Hojlund is better than Gyokeres—he's not. However, it demonstrates a potential that hasn't been tapped into yet.
Ruben Amorim's Tactical Influence
Hojlund and Gyokeres share similar profiles, but their development trajectories have diverged due to differing team dynamics and support systems.
Under Erik ten Hag, Hojlund has largely been in a team that uses wingers as a major source of goals rather than the striker. Conversely, at Sporting, Ruben Amorim employed a system that centred the striker as the focal point for goals, utilising wingbacks and box-crashing #10s.
This clear difference in tactical approach means that Hojlund could see significant improvements in his game once Amorim fully instils his style of play into the Manchester United squad. By increasing his shot and chance-creation actions, improving his hold-up play, and fostering better connections with his teammates, Amorim can help Hojlund evolve into the prolific striker that Gyokeres has become.
Conclusion: A Bright Future Under Amorim
Ruben Amorim has demonstrated a remarkable ability to unlock the potential of strikers like Viktor Gyokeres through his tailored tactical approach at Sporting CP.
With Rasmus Hojlund's similar attributes and raw talent, Amorim is well-positioned to replicate this success at Manchester United. By restructuring the team's offensive dynamics to prioritise the striker, enhancing support through wingbacks and creative midfielders, and fostering a system that leverages Hojlund's strengths in finishing and physical presence, Amorim can maximise Hojlund's goal-scoring capabilities.
As Hojlund adapts to this new environment and receives the necessary support, there is significant potential for him to flourish into one of Europe's top strikers, much like Gyokeres did under Amorim's guidance. Manchester United fans have every reason to be optimistic about Hojlund's future, anticipating that under Amorim's leadership, he will not only fulfil but potentially exceed his already promising trajectory.
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This article was written by Coby Rose
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