Dimitar Berbatov has singled out two Manchester United players and sent them a clear-cut message over what Erik ten Hag will expect from them this season.
Manchester United kicked off their Premier League season last week with a 1-0 win over Marco Silva’s Fulham side at Old Trafford.
New summer signing Joshua Zirkzee climbed off the bench and broke the deadlock late in the second half to seal all three points for Erik ten Hag’s men.
United manager Ten Hag was forced to deploy Bruno Fernandes in a false nine type of role for the Fulham match after losing Rasmus Hojlund to injury this summer.
The 54-year-old Dutchman, who inked a contract extension this summer, is keen to see the Red Devils bounce back in the Premier League this season.
United suffered their worst finish in Premier League history last season, with Ten Hag’s men only managing an eighth-place finish in the 2023-24 campaign.
Berbatov on Man Utd and ‘competition’
Erik ten Hag reinforced his striking options this summer with the arrival of Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee from Serie A side Bologna.
Zirkzee, who was signed in a deal worth £36.54m, missed the United pre-season after representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
The 23-year-old Dutch forward was on the bench for the Community Shield clash earlier this month and was an unused substitute in the defeat to Manchester City.
However, Zirkzee made his debut for United against Fulham and the Netherlands international had a sensational impact for the Red Devils.
Rasmus Hojlund, on the other hand, is expected to be ruled out of action for six weeks and is likely to return after the September international break.
The 21-year-old Danish forward was forced off with an injury during United’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal during the pre-season in the United States.
Speaking to Futbin, Dimitar Berbatov has insisted that United have “competition” when it comes to Hojlund and Zirkzee battling for a place in the starting XI.
“It’s going to be a competition and because there’s a lot of football to be played it’s good to have different options for different games and opponents,” he said.
“Sometimes you have to decide your team based on the opponents and the defenders of the team.
“Sometimes it’s difficult for the attackers to understand why they’ve been benched and why another attacker is playing ahead of him but this is the job of the manager.”
Berbatov’s message to Hojlund and Zirkzee
Berbatov admitted that he is keen to see Hojlund score “as soon as possible” in the Premier League this season after his mixed first season at the Red Devils.
Hojlund, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2023, went his first 14 Premier League matches without finding the back of the net for United.
Berbatov added that the main focus for both Hojlund and Zirkzee under Ten Hag is ensuring that they can consistently score for United.
“My wish is, especially with Rasmus having a year in the Premier League, for them to score goals as soon as possible,” he continued.
“This is how strikers are judged. As a striker, I also look out for so many other things.
“How they open up the pitch, the spaces they leave for their teammates, how they control the ball, dropping back to get on the ball and then getting up the pitch, following the game.
“For Zirkzee and Hojlund, the most important thing is scoring goals.”
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