Man Utd star urged not to ‘waste time’ and improve under new coach

Dimitar Berbatov has urged Rasmus Hojlund to improve his goal output this season and said the Manchester United striker would be ‘wasting his time’ if he doesn’t seek the help of new coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Having completed his £72m move from Atalanta last summer, Hojlund enjoyed a mixed first season as the Red Devils struggled for consistency under Erik ten Hag.

The Dane ended the campaign with 16 goals in all competitions but has still yet to convince everyone that he is the long-term solution to United’s search for a striker.

Hojlund will miss United’s opening games of the season with a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season, but will hope to hit the ground running upon his return.

And Berbatov has insisted the 21-year-old must seek out the advice of new assistant coach – and former United striker – Van Nistelrooy if he is to take the next step in his career.

‘If you don’t take this opportunity to learn from one of the best who used to score goals for fun, you’re wasting your time,’ he said, speaking to Futbin.com.

‘Speak to Ruud, ask questions, visit his home if you have to, be respectful, listen to him, learn, ask questions and try to add that to your game.’

Asked what areas specifically Hojlund must improve, Berbatov replied: ‘Hojlund’s goal ratio must improve. He should be better and I think he can be better.

‘He can do better but it comes down to concentration levels. Keeping his concentration levels high throughout all the games because he had good goal scoring opportunities and didn’t score them.

‘So this is the moment where he has to work even harder which won’t be easy but it’ll be beneficial.’

This season, Hojlund will have competition in the form of summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, who scored off the bench on his debut, and Berbatov hopes that both young strikers can drive each other on to improve.

‘My wish is, especially with Rasmus having a year in the Premier League, for them to score goals as soon as possible. This is how strikers are judged,’ he said.

‘As a striker I also look out for so many other things. How they open up the pitch, the spaces they leave for their team mates, how they control the ball, dropping back to get on the ball and then getting up the pitch, following the game.

‘For Zirkzee and Hojlund, the most important thing is scoring goals.’

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