August 17th 2024.
Joshua Zirkzee, the young and eager player, made a memorable debut for Manchester United by scoring the winning goal against Fulham. While many praised the German striker's impressive performance, former United star Dimitar Berbatov believes that two other players deserved the man of the match award more.
Zirkzee was brought on as a substitute in the 61st minute, as United struggled to break down Fulham's defense in their first Premier League game of the season. With only three minutes left in the match, Zirkzee played a crucial role in setting up and scoring the winning goal. He received a cross from Alejandro Garnacho and skillfully placed it into the back of the net, beating goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Before Zirkzee's heroics, Bruno Fernandes had missed two clear opportunities to score in the first half. However, he also played a vital role in the winning goal, winning possession from deep in the field. For Berbatov, Fernandes was one of two standout players for United, along with Casemiro's impressive performance in midfield.
Berbatov shared his thoughts on Zirkzee's debut, stating, "[Zirkzee was] asking for the ball, 'give me the ball.' He showed confidence, but it also highlights the unpredictable nature of football. You score one goal and suddenly you're the man of the match. While the goal was crucial, I agree with Owen [Hargreaves] that Casemiro or Bruno deserved the award more. But that's just how football goes sometimes."
United faced a challenge in their first game, as they were without a recognized center forward due to an injury to Ramus Hojlund. However, Zirkzee proved to be a capable replacement. Berbatov believes that there is still room for improvement for the young striker, but he saw plenty of positives in his performance. He also noted that United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now part of ten Hag's coaching staff, would have been proud of Zirkzee's debut goal.
"There is a lot of work to be done with him," Berbatov remarked. "As we saw in his interview, he is still shy, getting used to the club. But he was fearless in the box, constantly asking for the ball and attacking. It was a great start for him, and I'm sure Ruud will be buzzing to share his insights with him and help him improve for the next game."
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