Is Hojlund a mentality monster?
Reading head coach Ruben Selles has conducted an interesting interview, during which he describes Rasmus Hojlund as a "mentality monster".
Selles worked with Hojlund at FC Copenhagen, as assistant manager to Jess Thorup, and was blown away by the youngster's strong character and mindset, and it is a subject broached with the Denmark international during his big interview with the latest edition of Inside United, the official club magazine.
During his chat with the Training Ground Guru podcast, Royals boss Selles said: "I think, with Rasmus, you can expect him to be rated as one of the best strikers in the world but I think he will become that when the team, the United team, will become more established than it is now. I think you can only expect better things from him in the Manchester United [shirt].
"He's a mentality monster. He developed into a mentality monster. He has a good family that takes care of him. His two brothers are playing for FC Copenhagen, actually for the first team. One of them was even in the squad when they played there [at Old Trafford].
"And his environment is really strong and you don't have that quite often with a young, talented player, that when we had him in Copenhagen, with that kind of mentality.
Reading manager Ruben Selles worked with Rasmus Højlund at FC Copenhagen and says he'll be one of the best strikers in the world.
— Training Ground Guru (@ground_guru) January 16, 2024
"He's a mentality monster, a really strong character. He's going to be unbelievable."#MUFC
Full interview via this link https://t.co/G2Pj7Etf0G pic.twitter.com/YuzPbqBeyc
"In the Premier League, the exposure is the biggest in the world and, when he has a miss, everyone is talking about it but it's just part of the process and he will become a better player and he will become stronger in games, and in his mind through this process.
"He's been brilliant in all the other competitions and brilliant for United.
"I think it is a matter of time before he connects that and connects that with the fans and, once he will make this 'crack', he's going to be unbelievable."
So does Hojlund agree that his mentality is one of his big assets, as he looked back on his first six months at the club in an exclusive interview with Inside United?
"I definitely think that's one of my strengths," he said. "The mentality part of it.
"I don't like to hide. I like to show personality and character. And that is also what brought me here, and can keep getting me to the next level.
"It can keep getting me, from the other side, that is what I try to do. I try to be better every day. I try to push myself. And, if there’s something I’m not good enough at, I’m doing my best to be that.”
Read the interview in full with Rasmus Hojlund in the February edition of Inside United.
Watch the full chat with Ruben Selles via the Training Ground Guru podcast.