Rasmus Hojlund: Man Utd simply not good enough against Copenhagen

  • Hojlund scored twice against FC Copenhagen but Man Utd slip to damaging Champions League defeat
  • United threw away two-goal lead for first time ever in top level European competition
  • Marcus Rashford sent off
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice for Manchester United but his goals were in vein
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice for Manchester United but his goals were in vein / Maja Hitij/GettyImages
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Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund conceded the performance of the team was not good enough in the aftermath of Marcus Rashford's red card against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

The Red Devils were 2-0 up and cruising in the Danish capital, courtesy of a Hojlund brace, but things took a turn for the worse when Rashford was sent off just before the break for alleged violent conduct.

United then conceded two goals before the half-time interval and although Bruno Fernandes restored the lead from the penalty spot with 20 minutes to go, a late collapse saw Copenhagen emerge 4-3 winners to root the Red Devils to the bottom of Group A.

Hojlund's early double was his fourth and fifth Champions League goals of the season - tying him with Alvaro Morata for the most goals scored in the 2023/24 competition - but he put his own personal achievements to the side when dissecting how the game played out with CBS Sports.

"Disappointed because we turned it around after the red card," Hojlund reflected. "Of course it changed the game, but it's a bad feeling.

"We did well to keep working hard after the (third) goal, and to try and keep them away from the goal, but we need to do better. We can't let them come back in a game like this!


Erik ten Hag, Mason Mount
Erik ten Hag issues instructions to late substitute Mason Mount / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

"We went a man down and they made a change of system to try and get men forward, and it worked for them."

Manager Erik ten Hag echoed Hojlund's feeling of disappointment and pointed towards Rashford's red card as the decisive turning point in the game.

"We are very disappointed because we played very good," the Dutchman said. "We started the game so well. Our best minutes of the season. We are winning the game and the red card changes everything.

"It's a game of mistakes. I wouldn't say we did everything right but there are a lot of positives. Even with ten men we were dictating the game. We played very good."


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