Erik ten Hag addresses why Man Utd aren't scoring enough goals

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes goals "will come" for his team after registering just five in seven Premier League games so far this season.

Sunday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa had positives given the context of the season, with a clean sheet a welcome result after conceding three in back-to-back games against Tottenham Hotspur and Porto. But United also drew a blank for the fourth time in their last five league games.

Accounting for scoring three times against Southampton, United have actually only found the net in three of their seven league matches.

"That will come. [There are] more reasons [than not being good enough]," Ten Hag replied when quizzed on the lack of goals during his post-match press conference at Villa Park.

"Sometimes it's the form," he added. "Rasmus Hojlund is just in the season, he is not up to 100 [per cent] fitness, match fitness. And he is our goalscorer, I would say our best goalscorer. But also others, we know they can score goals, like [Marcus] Rashford. But he scored in Porto, he had a good assist in Porto, [against Villa] he created two very good chances.

"I think [Alejandro] Garnacho is, all season, already a threat, but also scoring and assisting. Bruno [Fernandes] has abilities to score goals.

"We will get there and we trust the players. One day it will click."

Prior to facing Tottenham, Ten Hag insisted he will only worry about a lack of goals if his team also stop creating chances. There hasn't been the same issue in non-Premier League competitions, with 11 scored across three games against Barnsley, FC Twente and Porto.

Rashford and Garnacho have each scored four times across all competitions, with Christian Eriksen on three. Hojlund, who finished last season on 16 goals, got his first of the season in Porto after linking up well with Rashford, having started that move himself by winning a header in midfield.

Fernandes, who has achieved double figures in every season since he joined United, is unusually yet to get off the mark. Joshua Zirkzee has also struggled to add to his debut goal from early August.

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