In all my career as a player,I have never seen this kind player like Him before,He surprised me last night and I’m so happy to play with such a great talent”, Joshua Zirkzee reveals the only Man United that He loves watching yesterday – Not Rashford and Not Garnacho

Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, United found Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, in superb form, making it difficult to find the back of the net. However, a late debut goal from Joshua Zirkzee in the 87th minute ensured that United started the season with a win.

The match was characterized by United’s persistence in attack and a solid defensive effort, but it also highlighted some areas for improvement. Zirkzee’s goal, which earned him the man of the match award, was a moment of relief after Fulham had resisted United’s advances for most of the game. Alejandro Garnacho had a chance to extend the lead in stoppage time but failed to convert, missing an opportunity to put the game beyond Fulham’s reach.

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also stood out with an impressive performance. The academy graduate was instrumental in midfield, winning 13 ground and aerial duels, completing 90 percent of his passes, and demonstrating his dribbling ability with four successful take-ons. Mainoo’s influence was evident, and his performance earned praise from his teammates, including Zirkzee, who referred to him as the “General” on Instagram.

United’s display in this opener was an improvement from last season’s first match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where they narrowly secured a win. However, the game against Fulham revealed some weaknesses that need to be addressed. Bruno Fernandes missed two clear chances in the first half, and Garnacho’s late miss could have made the victory more comfortable.

Defensively, there were concerns, particularly regarding Casemiro’s performance. While the Brazilian contributed to the attack with three shots and two chances created, his defensive responsibilities were compromised. Casemiro lost possession 13 times and was dribbled past twice, exposing gaps that Fulham could have exploited. This performance suggests that United might benefit from reinforcing their midfield with a more defensively solid option to provide depth and competition.

In summary, Manchester United’s season opener showed promise, with standout performances from Zirkzee and Mainoo. However, for United to sustain their success in the Premier League, they will need to address the vulnerabilities exposed in this match, particularly in defensive midfield.