During the Community Shield defeat to Man City at Wembley, Roy Keane and Erik ten Hag found themselves at very different ends of the spectrum when discussing the performance of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.
While Ten Hag was pleased to see his number ten consistently get himself into goalscoring positions, Keane was underwhelmed by Rashford’s inability to turn those chances into goals as the Red Devils lost on penalties.
Six days later, however, the Manchester United manager and the club’s legendary skipper saw eye-to-eye this time when commenting on what could be the first of many eye-catching displays in that famous shirt for Noussair Mazraoui.
The only one of Man United’s four summer signings to be thrown in from the start against Fulham, Mazraoui is be the cheapest of the lot at £12.8 million. But, on this evidence, the former Ajax and Bayern Munich man represents outstanding value for money.
Noussair Mazraoui shines as Manchester United beat Fulham
The technical ability for which he is renowned – United icon Jaap Stam said he is ‘incredibly good on the ball‘ while Ten Hag hailed his press-resistant qualities – stood out from the first whistle.
A composed passer of the ball with both feet, Mazraoui kept the play moving effectively down the right. Nothing too spectacular but there was an authority and an accuracy to his build-up play that predecessor Aaron Wan-Bissaka often lacked.
Mazraoui impressed in his defensive duties too.
Some fine back post defending as Man United not only started the Premier League campaign with a clean sheet but also restricted Fulham to an XG of under one.
“He did the basics well,” Keane told Sky Sports at full-time (16 August, 10.30pm). “He looks like a decent athlete. He will be pleased. You go to a club and to get a victory and a clean sheet.
“He will be delighted.”
Mazraoui played 80 minutes before being replaced late on, ex-Ajax and Bayern team-mate Matthijs de Ligt coming off the bench for his own United bow.
Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles alongside the stylish Morocco international at Ajax. And he feels that the best is still to come with Mazraoui not yet at the very top of his game.
“I know Noussair Mazraoui like this. He is a great defender, but he is very composed on the ball,” Ten Hag says. “He is not in full condition. When he gets 100 per cent fitness, he can do much more.
“He has to build his fitness.”
Joshua Zirkzee scores winner on Old Trafford bow
Ten Hag was relieved, meanwhile, to see Man United start the new season far more impressively than they begun the last one. The scoreline might have been the same – 1-0 against Wolves last year and 1-0 against Fulham here – but the performance was much improved.
A debut goal for Joshua Zirkzee following a fizzed cross from fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho was, meanwhile, the icing on the cake.
“Against Fulham it is always a difficult game,” adds Ten Hag. “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. (We have to) kill in the box.”
Ten Hag hopes that a settled, injury-free backline – boosted by the arrivals of Mazraoui, De Ligt and Leny Yoro – can pick up where United left off in 2023 when David de Gea claimed the Golden Glove.
“Two season ago, (we had) the most clean sheets in the Premier League,” the Dutchman points out. “When we have a consistent back four, we will defend properly.
“If you don’t have a consistent back four, the gaps will come.”
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