RASMUS HOJLUND could create a piece of Champions League history when his former side Copenhagen visit Old Trafford on Tuesday.The Manchester United star could play against his twin brothers Oscar and Emil, which would be the first time three brothers have played in the same Champions League match.
Oscar, left, and Emil Hojlund are beginning to break into the first-team
Rasmus Hojlund has impressed in the Champions League with three goals in two gamesCredit: Getty
Hojlund, 20, is two years older than the twins, who are both very highly rated.
However they are still yet to nail down a regular starting place at Copenhagen, though midfielder Oscar has made seven appearances this season – including one in the Champions League.
Emil made his debut in the Europa Conference League last year but has made just one first-team appearance this campaign – however the forward has excelled for the youth team with six goals in six games.
Hojlund also came through the academy at Copenhagen and scored five goals in 32 games for the Danish giants before leaving in January 2022.
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His meteoric rise has seen the Denmark international join United 18 months after leaving Copenhagen, and he has earned clubs almost £100million in transfer fees.
But his former sporting director at local club Horsholm Usserod Idraetsklub (HUI), Christian Mouroux, believes the Hojlund brothers are even better than the Red Devils star.
He told Manchester Evening News: “A lot of people who have met all three think the two younger brothers are at least as talented as Rasmus.
“All of them have been very well advanced compared to the average, but the two younger brothers were, compared to Rasmus at the same age, in front of him.
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“In my opinion, if you’re talking about pure talent, I would go to the length of maybe saying the two little brothers have a slight competitive advantage.
“My personal favourite is Oscar. Emil is the more elegant player, he makes the elegant decisions and looks elegant when he’s dribbling and having beautiful passes, whereas Oscar is more of a bulldog, he’s a fighter, a winner, going into tackles, having courage.
“I think he has that because he was smaller than both of his brothers but also everyone else he was playing against. He had to compensate, so he is fearless, but also very good on the ball and he has that type of mentality where he is a winning personality, you can just see he wants to win in every single situation of the game.”
One former coach claimed Emil Hojlund is more talented than big brother Rasmus
Oscar Hojlund has made seven appearances for Copenhagen this seasonCredit: Getty
All three brothers have their father to thank for their incredible development.
Anders Hojlund coached at HUI and would spend hours training each of his sons individually when tempers boiled over in group sessions.
He even converted the basement of his house into an indoor, wooden football pitch, allowing the brothers to continue playing football when adverse weather conditions prohibited outdoor play.
The three grew up playing with each other but their eagerness to better one another meant their father had to sometimes split up their training.
But when Oscar and Emil signed their first Copenhagen contracts together in late 2021, the latter expressed his pride at being able to continue his football journey alongside his twin.
Hojlund made 32 appearances for Copenhagen after progressing through the club’s academyCredit: Getty
The trio remain close with Hojlund revealing he called up Oscar and Emil immediately after the Champions League draw was made.
The forward is excited to be taking on his former club and thinks it would be “cool” to play against one or both of his siblings.
Hojlund will also want to prove he is better than his younger brothers – Emil is claimed to be the best talent to play for HUI, not Rasmus.
But Hojlund has reached the top thanks to his amazing work ethic and his desire to keep improving.
While he awaited his transfer to United in the summer the striker returned to his home in Denmark, Horsholm, and used the facilities at HUI to maintain his fitness.
Hojlund arrived in Manchester with an injury but he has hit the ground running since returning to full fitness, proving his dedication to recovery.
He is still yet to score in the Premier League but has proved lethal in the Champions League so could play a key role against Copenhagen.
Erik ten Hag’s side are in much need of a win having lost to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray so far in the competition.
Hojlund has three goals in two Champions League matches but former Chelsea player Ruud Gullit is concerned his team-mates are being too greedy to get the best out of him.
Copenhagen also lost to Bayern Munich but drew with Galatasary which means they are one point ahead of bottom-placed United.
Hojlund was substituted in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United as Ten Hag states he wants to keep him sharp, with the youngster showing his best form in Europe.
The United boss said: “He plays often whole games, but the idea behind [subbing him off] is we have to manage his minutes.
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“Also it is internal competition. We have to keep him sharp.
“We have to swap in games, between games, otherwise we don’t keep the energy, focus and freshness in every game.” More
