Competition stimulates momentum? Hoylund lost the goal and still won applause

Hoylund lost the goal and still won applause: Can Manchester United's "No. 9 Curse" end?

In the friendly match between Manchester United and West Ham United, although Danish striker Rasmus Hoylund failed to score, his competitive state and self-confidence undoubtedly injected a shot of a heart-warming shot for Manchester United fans. This is not only about the outcome of a friendly match, but also may indicate whether he can break the "No. 9 Curse" and become the real forward pillar of Old Trafford.

This game was held in the United States, and Hoylund started. It is worth noting that new player Brian Mbemo did not make the roster this summer, which undoubtedly increased the pressure on Hoylund's shoulders. Facing rumors that coach Ruben Amorin may introduce a new center this summer, if Hoylund continues to be in a downturn, he is likely to face the fate of bidding farewell to Old Trafford. Perhaps it is this sense of urgency of "fighting back and forth" that completely inspired Hoylund's fighting spirit.

In the second minute of the game, Hoylund created the most exciting offensive opportunity in the game: Bruno Fernandez gave a subtle pass, Hoylund broke through the defense line with amazing speed and threw away the defensive player Kilman who could not catch up. Facing the goalkeeper, he calmly pushed the ball, but the ball unfortunately hit the post and bounced out. Despite the failure to score, this offense fully demonstrated Hoylund's speed, strength and calmness when handling the ball, allowing fans to see his huge potential.

[Fans hotly discussed: Positive signals and expectations] After the game, a large number of fans encouraged and supported Hoylund by fans:

"Hoylund's counterattack was so exciting, but unfortunately he was a little lucky. If he could score a goal, it would be perfect."

"This shot is of high quality, I hope he can seize more such opportunities."

"I saw positive signals, but he still needed more such performances."

"He doesn't want to be sold, nor does he want to sit on the bench. Now is the time for him to save himself."

These comments all reveal the fans' recognition and expectations of Hoylund.

Shortly after Hoylund missed the opportunity, Manchester United won a penalty in the 5th minute. West Ham goalkeeper Areola made a rough foul in the penalty area and knocked down Aiden Xiwen, and the referee decisively awarded a penalty. Bruno Fernandez scored a penalty and scored the first record for Manchester United. This is also Manchester United's first goal in the 2025 summer warm-up match, after they both scored no results against Leeds United and Bournemouth, breaking the goal drought.

Hoylund's performance in this game is undoubtedly the most active and exciting time he has joined Manchester United. Despite failing to score, his impact, running awareness and shooting confidence in the frontcourt are more mature than ever. For a young forward, improving his condition requires time to accumulate, and Manchester United fans are willing to give him more patience.

Next, the key to Hoylund is whether this positive state can be continued and strive to completely win the trust of the coach before the start of the new season. If he can do that, maybe United won't need to introduce new centers.