Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has spoken about the weight of expectation at his former club and admits he will need a Premier League title to secure “legendary” status at the club.
The United States-born former Italy international has also gave his perspective on the club’s attacking woes, the weight of expectations at the club if Sesko can succeed and whether Naples can spark Hojlund’s Redemption.
Rossi also defends footballers for being victim of price tags they don’t choose and argues Amorim must stick to principles if he is to succeed.
Man United
The Weight Of Expectation At United
It's great that United are investing in young kids and players who can hopefully bring something new to the team and change its course after how things have been going these past few years.
We hope that Benjamin Sesko can be one of those pieces. Obviously, one player can't change the entire outcome, but hopefully, he can be one of the pieces, one of the bright spots this year, to build upon.
We've been through this a lot as United fans. I say "us" because since my days at Man Utd, I've always followed and cheered for them. I have some great memories from my time there.
We've seen this often: young kids come in, they're hyped, and we pay a lot of money for them. What happens is they don't deliver, not because they're not good enough, but because wearing that Manchester United shirt carries a lot of responsibility. It weighs a lot.
I compare that shirt to a national team shirt. I remember playing for Italy, every time I put on that shirt, it felt different from anything else. So, it's special to play for Manchester United. You need a certain type of character, a certain way you carry yourself, and self-confidence, which is important. I hope he understands that.
I hope the legends and those from the past can guide him properly, not only physically and technically but also mentally, on what it means to be a Manchester United player. Hopefully, we see the fruits of it.
Benjamin Sesko
Is Sesko The Next Zlatan?
You have to be your own player. Obviously, you take a lot from players you respect and like. He likes Zlatan Ibrahimovic; I liked Marco van Basten and Andriy Shevchenko growing up.
We all have different players we look up to, but it doesn't mean we have to play like them. You could admire their work ethic, the way they went about situations, and their mentality towards things.
But at the end of the day, when you're on the field, you have to mould yourself into the player you believe you are and not think about anybody else. So I'm sure that he knows that.
I'm sure many people do know that. So I have no worries about him being the best player that he could possibly be.”
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund’s Redemption
It's a shame when hyped players are bought for a lot of money and succumb to the pressure. That's what happened with Rasmus Hojlund, and it happens to a lot of players.
It's important to find a different atmosphere to reset mentally and re-interpret the game. Hojlund lives for goals, and hopefully, he gets the chance to come back a stronger, better player and finally show his worth at United.
“Crazy” Naples Atmosphere
Rasmus Hojlund goes into a team that obviously just won the Serie A. That has its own pressure, because you're talking about a very big club, a club that the fans love to their core.
The stadium is crazy. So it's almost like a Manchester United atmosphere on Saturdays. Obviously, it doesn't have the history, it doesn't have the aura, but it comes close to it.
So I think it's a nice step for Hojlund to try and find himself again, to feel important, because I feel like he can bring back all the good, that’s what he will hopefully do.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Turning Down Saudi
I love it because it shows that he's attached to the shirt, that he still cares, that he wants to compete, and that he's not being lured by all these millions. I think he gets paid very well at Manchester United as well, so it kind of just tells you that sports shouldn't be all about money, but about passion.
It should be about love for the game. And if you find a team that loves you back, I feel like that's the ultimate goal. You always want to feel at home when you're away from your real home, obviously, right? So I hope he found that at Manchester.
There are more things that people need to evaluate when it comes to moving, and not only money. So I give him a lot of props for that. I hope the fans understand that, because many people would have left, many teams would have sold. So I'm happy that he's back and he's continuing to perform at a high level.”
Bruno Needs Premier League For Legendary Status
He's done great things for Manchester United. To achieve legendary status at the club, a player needs to win a title as captain, not just as a bench player.
He has that opportunity now, and at 31, he still has time. I hope it happens because it would signify Manchester United's return to where they need to be.
Players Aren’t Superhuman
Different players always take time to adapt to new surroundings. They're not used to playing at these levels, with such high stakes and pressure. However, I believe we'll slowly see them excel and return to their past form. Sometimes we forget that we're all human beings.
Even with a price tag of 80, 90, or 100 million next to our name, it doesn't mean we're superhuman or robots, right? We all need time to adapt to things on and off the field.
Once that's settled, once a player is open to adapting to a different culture and way of doing things, then things start becoming a bit easier. It's been a month since real competition started, since they got a taste of what it is to compete with the shirt on. So I hope that after this international break, we see better results.
Ruben Amorim
Amorim Must Stick To Principles
I believe you adapt your style of play and your beliefs to the players around you. It's difficult to change players' habits at this high level and at this stage of their careers, and then expect them to perform at their best.
For young players, 16, 17, or 18-year-olds, it's a different situation as they are in their formative and development years. However, I think you must adapt to the qualities of the players you have.
I believe Amorim is a very smart coach, and I admire his ideas and his preferred playing style. That's my philosophy when it comes to playing, so I hope he understands that point.
I hope he doesn't stray too far from his own thought process, as it's important to stay true to who you are, but just as players adapt to their surroundings, a coach must adapt to the players on his team.
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