Joshua Zirkzee emerged as a Manchester United hero during his debut, scoring a late goal to secure a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League season opener on Friday. Despite lacking match fitness following his £36.5 million ($47 million) transfer from Bologna last month, Zirkzee made an impactful appearance, coming on for the final thirty minutes.
The Dutch international salvaged a challenging evening for the Red Devils at Old Trafford by converting Alejandro Garnacho’s cross in the 87th minute. “It is incredible to win in my first home match and to score a goal; it could not be better,” Zirkzee expressed. “I have been informed that scoring at the Stretford End is one of the most exhilarating experiences at Manchester United. I am immensely grateful and fortunate to have had this experience in my debut. It is truly an extraordinary feeling.”
United manager Erik ten Hag retained his position at the end of last season, despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League, largely due to their FA Cup triumph. Whether that surprising victory over their rivals, Manchester City, in May can serve as a catalyst for improvement remains uncertain, especially given a performance that echoed many from the previous season. “I have identified numerous areas where we need to enhance, but that is to be expected,” Ten Hag remarked. “This win is beneficial for reinforcing our confidence.”
The Dutch coach disclosed prior to the match that his team was “not prepared” for the new season, with several key players sidelined due to injuries or lack of match readiness, a fact that was evident during the game. Bruno Fernandes was deployed in a central forward position due to the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, while Zirkzee began the match on the bench after returning late to pre-season following Euro 2024.
Noussair Mazraoui was immediately integrated into the starting lineup at left-back after his recent transfer from Bayern Munich. However, Jadon Sancho was excluded from the squad, despite indications that he and Ten Hag had resolved their previous disagreements. Fulham had previously triumphed at Old Trafford for the first time in two decades in February during a difficult season for United.
