Schmeichel claims United players ignored Hojlund

Peter Schmeichel has accused Manchester United players of actively refusing to pass the ball to Rasmus Hojlund. The former goalkeeper made the remarks on The Overlap, arguing that the Danish striker was left without support during his time at Old Trafford. Schmeichel described Hojlund as a goal machine who was forced to play in a period where he had no service from his teammates.

Hojlund joined Manchester United from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £72 million. The transfer occurred after United failed to sign Harry Kane. In his first season in Manchester, Hojlund scored 16 goals. His output dropped to 10 goals in the following season, with only two of those coming in Premier League matches. United subsequently sent him on loan to Napoli in 2025, a move that became permanent in June after a successful campaign in Italy.

Schmeichel criticized the club for replacing a fantastic player with an injury-prone option. He pointed to the recruitment of Benjamin Sesko, who was signed from RB Leipzig for a fee similar to Hojlund's original price. Schmeichel noted that United’s director of recruitment, formerly the technical director at RB Leipzig, brought in Sesko. The former goalkeeper questioned why the club felt the need to make a change when they already had a striker with so much potential.

Sesko has shown promise, averaging a goal every 85 minutes during the second half of last season under Michael Carrick. However, the Slovenia international has been limited by a shin injury over the last six months. United have not disclosed specific details about his latest issue, though reports suggest he could be sidelined until February. Schmeichel stated that Sesko is a great player but is always injured, noting that the club has already gone two years down the road with a striker who has high potential.

Hojlund has found success in Italy, scoring 16 goals in his first season back with Napoli. This term, he has scored two goals in 11 appearances. That tally is the same as Sesko, despite Hojlund seeing 600 more minutes of action than the Slovenian. Schmeichel observed that Hojlund is young and has been a Manchester United fan since childhood. He argued that the player would do anything for the club and that he needed to be coached to maximize his great talent.

Schmeichel said he sees Hojlund playing for Denmark and expects him to score a lot of goals, even if there are periods where he does not. The former keeper believes Hojlund will remain a goal machine everywhere he goes. He contrasted the situation with the current squad, where a young kid needed support but had players who very openly would not even pass it to him. Schmeichel insisted that the decision to let Hojlund go was a mistake, given the striker's youth and potential.

The former goalkeeper’s comments add to the debate over United's recent transfer policy. While Sesko has been hampered by injury, Hojlund has established himself at Napoli. The former keeper remains vocal about the club's direction, specifically regarding the handling of their forward line. His assessment highlights the difference in playing time and output between the two strikers this season. Schmeichel’s critique focuses on the lack of service Hojlund received before his departure.