December 31st 2024.
Joshua Zirkzee's time on the field during Manchester United's match against Newcastle was short-lived, lasting only 33 minutes before being substituted. Former United player Rio Ferdinand expressed his disappointment for the young forward, hoping that his teammates would offer him the support he needs during this difficult time.
Zirkzee joined the team with high expectations after a £36.5 million move from Bologna in the summer transfer window. However, his performance has not lived up to these expectations, with only three goals in all competitions since his debut against Fulham.
In fact, Zirkzee has even faced criticism from his manager, Ruben Amorim, after a match against Ipswich last month. It seems that he still has a long way to go in winning over his manager with his performances.
During the match against Newcastle, Zirkzee's struggles continued as he was substituted off by Amorim after just 33 minutes. The crowd at Old Trafford expressed their disappointment with loud boos and jeers as Zirkzee walked off the field, to be replaced by Kobbie Mainoo.
When asked about his decision to substitute Zirkzee in the early stages of the match, Amorim explained that he was looking for more power in the team's attack and wanted to strengthen their defense against set-pieces. He also acknowledged that the team is facing many challenges and they are trying their best to cope with them.
Ferdinand, who now runs his own YouTube channel, commented on the match and described United's performance as a "disgrace." He even admitted that he had trouble sleeping after the match. However, he also sympathized with Zirkzee, saying that he knows how difficult it can be to be substituted off after only 30 minutes.
Ferdinand encouraged United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, to offer support to Zirkzee and set a positive example for the rest of the team. He also believes that the team as a whole is not performing at their best and that the manager needs more time to implement his ideas before being judged.
In the end, the question remains whether Zirkzee has a long-term future at Manchester United. Only time will tell, but Ferdinand believes that with the right support and resilience, Zirkzee can overcome this setback and come back stronger.
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