They started slow but grew in confidence, spurned some chances but equally left themselves exposed at the back too many times for comfort before Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th-minute winner – 25 minutes after coming off the bench to cap a memorable Manchester United debut on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign. Erik ten Hag knows it’s something they can build on now.
Ten Hag, Martinez both happy after hard-fought win
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
Zirkzee 87
IT wasn’t pretty, rather nervy at times and they could’ve been made to rue their multitude of missed chances – captain Bruno Fernandes fluffed three alone – but Manchester United had their £36m signing Joshua Zirkzee to thank as Erik ten Hag’s side kicked off the new season with victory against a determined Fulham display.
Initially many would’ve thought it was fellow substitute Scott McTominay, the subject of serious Fulham interest this summer, who got the matchwinning touch though replays confirmed Alejandro Garnacho’s inviting cross had actually been prodded home first-time by the 23-year-old Dutch forward on his Old Trafford debut.
Having been an unused substitute and watching at Wembley as his new teammates lost the Community Shield to champions Manchester City on penalties last weekend, the former Bayern man spoke post-match about gratitude after being able to experience a feeling many other marksman struggle, so early in his United career.
“We know he’s very good at linking play so [have told him to] be creative, bring others in play but we demand from him to arrive in the box and a lot of defending too.”
- ten Hag on Zirkzee’s qualities and what they, as a coaching staff, demand of him
It took £64m signing Rasmus Hojlund 15 domestic games to score his first Premier League goal – sandwiched between five in Champions League group play – and the occasion meant plenty for the Denmark international last season, clinching a 3-2 home win over Aston Villa in a contest they were previously trailing 2-0 at half-time.
Considering both Fernandes and Mason Mount aren’t centre-forwards, even if they hover in those positions, and Marcus Rashford has accepted he’s better suited on the flank, United will hope this is the first of many given their lack of luck in the final third across recent seasons. Ruud van Nistelrooy, back as an assistant coach, can help too.
“He will bring his experiences as a striker, give them feedback, trust, belief, resilience if necessary… mentally he’s very important for our staff and the group.”
- ten Hag on the importance of newly-appointed assistant RvN back at Old Trafford, 23 years after he scored a debut brace… against Fulham
Lisandro Martinez has endured a disruptive two-year stint to begin his United tenure, though the World Cup-winning defender spoke about helping others settle quickly and embracing the responsibility, having just signed a pair of defenders he knows well – Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt in a double deal from Bayern.
“They make a really big impact so that’s the message for everyone, we’re happy for them [joining] and so proud. It’s about the mentality, from day one they’re here to compete so when you have that connection, everything is easy.”
Martinez has racked up over 4,000 minutes across three seasons playing alongside Mazraoui during their time together with Eredivisie giants Ajax and while de Ligt had already departed by the 2019-20 season for Juventus, the highly-rated centre-back will hope third time’s the charm at a big Euro club outside his native Netherlands.
United next travel to Brighton under new management in Switzerland’s Fabian Hurzeler next Saturday, then host Liverpool before the September international break. Marco Silva’s Fulham meanwhile entertain newly-promoted Leicester next week before they travel to the Midlands as Birmingham await them in EFL Cup play.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via NBCSN
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