Wout Weghorst was not sheepish about his elated goal celebration against Real Betis in Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first leg clash.
“I think you could [see] it," he said, when it came up in a subsequent interview. “Great feeling and of course, I had to wait a long time for it - too long.” It was his first Old Trafford goal in what was his eighth home game since arriving in January.
It was clearly a trying week for the attacker who was hooked early in the second half of the 7-0 drubbing at Liverpool and had been at the brunt of taunts from a few after being seen touching the This Is Anfield sign ahead of kick-off.
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This was a man already frustrated with his goals return having netted just once in 14 outings before Thursday’s showdown. He was eager to make a point in midweek and he must keep that attitude going forward.
The striker isn’t just fighting for his place amid the long-awaited impending return of Anthony Martial, but for his future at United too. With months the only thing coming out of the January budget wallet, the club were forced into the loan market.
Weghorst was brought in as a stop-gap and despite an initial hopeful buzz, the striker looks like he will be exactly that - but he still has time yet to turn that tide. Upon his striker’s arrival, Erik ten Hag hailed the attributes of the Netherlands World Cup star.
“He can score goals from everywhere and he was always a surprise at every club in every league. That is also what I expect here. For here, I expect a team player and someone who can link up, a player who will do his defending work and we are really happy to sign him.''
Weghorst has mightily fulfilled this link-up and defensive play prediction but is yet to complete his manager’s goal hopes. Admittedly, it’s been hard to do that with him being asked to drop deeper to allow Marcus Rashford and Antony to run forward, especially when being played in an unnatural No.10.
The forward’s longevity in the side cannot be questioned - he’s started every game possible since his signing. And so Ten Hag has outlined what Weghorst must do to increase his chances of scoring.
After finding his first goal for the Reds in the 3-0 first-leg League Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest, his manager said: “It was important for his confidence. This was one of the ways that he can score goals, by being in the box and being present."
Weghorst did plenty in the win over Betis this week, notably more so than in previous matches. He had two first-half opportunities dismissed for offside, one of which found the net and the other somehow didn’t.
“He could have already [got] his goal early on,” Ten Hag noted post-match, adding: “But he keeps focused, he keeps working and he keeps putting himself in the right positions. And, finally, he got his goal and his reward.”
If can stick to Ten Hag’s advice, Weghorst can increase his chances of boosting his ratio of two goals in 15 matches.
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