Joshua Zirkzee lived the dream of every Manchester United as he scored on his debut in front of the Stretford End to win his team the game.
Zirkzee started on the bench after missing the entire pre-season and came on in the last half-an-hour with United needing a goal to break the deadlock.
In the stuff straight from fairytales, he latched onto Alejandro Garnacho’s cross in the 87th minute and poked it past the goalkeeper to send the fans wild.
After the game, Joshua Zirkzee revealed what Erik ten Hag told him before the game…
Joshua Zirkzee on Erik ten Hag’s advice
After marking his debut with a winner at the Stretford End, Zirkzee was all smiles in his post-match interview.
The Dutchman stressed that it was all “good vibes” and revealed what Ten Hag’s advice to him was before the game.
He said: “To win here on my debut, and grab a goal, it couldn’t be better. I’m very blessed that I could experience it in my first game. It’s an amazing feeling.
“I feel very warm here, it’s a great squad. We want to achieve something great. I’m taking it in, day by day. [Ten Hag told] just bring energy and help the team as much as possible. Just that.”
Bring energy and help the team is exactly what he did as he provided a focal point at the top to knit the play together.
United started with the same split striker system which rewarded them with good performances against Manchester City.
However, as they dominated possession, they lacked a target man at the top of the attack to finish chances, as they kept being wasteful.
Zirkzee scored with his only shot on target in a moment that is a positive sign for the future.
Zirkzee will be vital
This game showed more than anything else how important a striker will be for United this season. Going strikerless and playing a box midfield to dominate pressing in the final third is all well and good but before Zirkzee’s arrival, the game was trending in the same direction as the Community Shield final.
Lot of chances, all wasted, and just waiting to be sucker-punched by the opposition as United are left ruing their luck.
Zirkzee’s arrival changed the dynamic of the game as players finally had somebody to play off of and Fulham defenders had to remain on their toes due to his smart movement.
He dropped deep, ran beyond the last man, and created problems for a secure defensive structure.
With Rasmus Hojlund’s minutes needing managing and Marcus Rashford playing his best football out wide, Joshua Zirkzee might end up as United’s second-most important attacker after Bruno Fernandes by the end of the season.
That is a huge burden to carry for a 23-year-old in his debut season but he’s already off to a dream start.
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