October 6th 2024.
Jamie Carragher, a former professional footballer and current pundit, was not impressed with the performance of Manchester United's summer signing, Joshua Zirkzee, during their Premier League match against Aston Villa. Despite the underwhelming goalless draw, Carragher believes that United's recent struggles make the point a decent result.
The game at Villa Park saw few scoring opportunities, with United's Bruno Fernandes coming closest with a free-kick that hit the crossbar and Villa's Jaden Philogene almost scoring in the final minutes. United's starting striker, Rasmus Hojlund, was replaced by Zirkzee in the 64th minute, but the Dutch forward failed to make much of an impact and drew criticism from Carragher for his poor touches.
Zirkzee, who joined United for a hefty fee of £36.5m, did make a strong start for the team by scoring the winning goal in his debut against Fulham. However, he has failed to find the back of the net since then, in a United side that has been struggling to find their rhythm in the final third. Their recent 3-0 defeat to Tottenham and a 3-3 draw with Porto have only added to the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
There were even rumors that Ten Hag's job could be on the line if United lost to Villa, but the team managed to hold on for a draw, which could prove crucial for the Dutchman's future as we head into another international break. Carragher, who was commentating on the match for Sky Sports, believes that drawing at Villa Park is a decent result and praises United's defensive performance.
One player who caught Carragher's eye was United's veteran defender, Jonny Evans, who was given a rare start against Villa and impressed enough to receive the Player of the Match award. Speaking after the game, Evans admitted that the team's passing wasn't up to par, but they were happy to secure a point away from home against a tough opponent. He also praised Villa's quality and acknowledged that United had to stay on their toes throughout the match.
Despite the draw, United's struggles in recent matches have caused concern among fans and pundits. Many are questioning the team's attacking prowess and whether Ten Hag is the right man to lead them forward. However, it seems that the team's defensive performance against Villa has at least earned them some breathing room. As Carragher wisely points out, it's not just about one game, and United will need to find consistency in their performances if they want to challenge for top honors.
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