MAN UNITED 1, FULHAM 0
Joshua Zirkzee made a dream debut as he was Manchester United’s matchwinner in their Premier League opener against Fulham.
It looked as though it was heading for a disappointing goalless draw before the Dutchman’s late intervention.
The £36.5million summer signing from Italian club Bologna struck in the 87th minute to become a super-sub as he guided Alejandro Garnacho’s cross low past keeper Bernd Leno.
But we ought not have been surprised by the late winner as four of the last five winning goals in meeting between the two teams in the Premier League have come in the last five minutes.
Zirksee, who had only been on the field for 27 minutes, said: “To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better.
“I’ve been told [scoring at the Stretford End] is one of the best feelings at Man Utd. I’m so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It’s an amazing feeling.
“At the end of the day we got the win, that’s all we wanted. I can’t really explain the feeling, it’s just very nice.
“I feel very warm here. It’s a great team. We want to achieve something great. It’s been amazing, it’s been a dream actually.
“The manager told me to bring an energy and help the team as much as possible, just that.
“Manchester United is a huge club. You should always strive for the best. That includes day by day giving 100 per cent, that’s the plan. It’s all good vibes.”
United manager Erik ten Hag said: “Subs are always important and it was good to see in the first game that you bring a sub on and he scores the winner.
“Everyone sees how important subs are and they have to be ready.
“Scoring for a striker is important and he should be where he was, but he has more qualities and he has to get the right balance – he has to be arriving in the box to get the finishes, but we also want him to link up. We have some great midfielders around him to make up combinations.”
As to the match, ten Hag explained: “First game, but it is good to strengthen the belief. I have seen many spaces where we have to improve but that is normal.
“Against Fulham it is always a difficult game, but we defended and pressed very well. After 10 minutes we found our spell in the game, and we kept them under pressure. We created a lot of chances, and we should have scored earlier and that is the only criticism of the team – kill in the box.
“Two season ago [we had] the most clean sheets in the Premier League. When we have a consistent back four, we will defend properly. If you don’t have a consistent back four the gaps will come.
“I know Noussair Mazraoui like this. He is a great defender, but he is very composed on the ball – he is not in full condition, when he gets 100 per cent fitness he can do much more. He has to build his fitness.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva, who had never previously lost an opening fixture to the season in nine matches, said: “Frustration with the result for us. Big frustration for our players and fans, for sure. Overall, it was a good game with both teams trying to win the game.
“We started well and had good counterattacks to score. We adjusted things at half-time and second half was much better. We had good moments, a two against one, we should have done better.
“The main thing for us was to keep the emotional control. When the game becomes open, we should have kept the balance and kept compact. But in those moments, we lost emotional control and that allowed them to score.
“The game was open and broken, we tried to rush our decisions. Many times, we started to lose the ball too quick. We let the game go too emotional and we didn’t want that.
Embed from Getty Images“We lost four starters [in the transfer window]. We are probably the only team in the Premier League that lost four starters. We have to rebuild again. There is a lot of work for us to do other the next two weeks to rebuild. But we are very pleased with how the players have worked. We are working hard to get what we need.”
Full-back Mazraoui made his United debut just three days after the signing for the Premier League club from Bayern Munich.
Fellow summer signings Matthijs de Ligt and Zirkzee were on the bench for the Reds.
As for Fulham, new signing Emile Smith Rowe started while former Villarreal defender Jorge Cuenca was named amongst the substitutes.
Fulham made a bright start and asked questions of United’s back line.
Indeed, they carved out the first clear-cut chance in the 13th minute when a 25-yard drive from Kenny Tete was brilliantly turned over by keeper Andre Onana.
That came moments after United had a shout for a penalty turned down after Amad Diallo went to ground after a challenge from Antonee Robinson, but it was dismissed by referee Robert Jones and a subsequent VAR check.
United had to wait almost half an hour before their first serious opening, and that followed a poor clearance by keeper Bernd Leno.
Casemiro made the interception and played in Bruno Fernandes whose shot was blocked by the legs of the German stopper.
Leno’s legs denied Fernandes for a second time soon as Casemiro again played the through ball.
The second half took time before sparking to life when a drive from Kobbie Mainoo fron 25 yards flashed narrowly wide.
There was a glaring need for change and, on the hour, ten Hag made two substitutions as Amad and Mason Mount made way for Alejandro Garnacho and Zirkzee.
But it was Fulham who almost made the breakthrough when an overhead kick by Rodrigo Muniz deflected off Mainoo and was looping in before Onana tipped the ball over the bar.
Two further United changes were made with 10 minutes left as Maguire and Mazraoul were replaced by Jonny Evans and de Ligt and quickly followed by Mainoo making way for Scott McTominay.
The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute through substitute Zirkzee.
The Dutchman was involved in the build up and then got on the end of a Garnacho cross steering a shot low to the right of Leno.
United ought to have sealed victory with a second goal in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time.
Marcus Rashford sprinted clear on the left before squaring a pass to Garnacho who, with an open goal, scuffed his shot wide.
It was far from a perfect performance by the Reds but collecting three points was all that mattered as Zirkzee immediately repaid an instalment on his summer transfer fee.