TEN HAG : We Are Pleased For ZIRKZEE

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was delighted with his team’s winning start to the new season, as the Reds secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.

Joshua Zirkzee’s debut goal ignited the home crowd, as he tapped in Alejandro Garnacho’s cross from the right flank.

Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and fellow debutant Noussair Mazraoui all delivered standout performances, helping United claim all three points in front of a packed Old Trafford.

Scroll down to read the manager’s full post-match comments to the press…

ZIRKZEE’S IMPACT?
“It doesn’t matter where he’s from—whether Dutch, English, Russian, or South American—he’s a Manchester United player. It’s fantastic for a striker to join Manchester United and score the winning goal in his first game. Remember last season when Rasmus Hojlund scored in his first Premier League game at Old Trafford? We all waited anxiously as VAR reviewed the play, and after two minutes, they confirmed the ball had crossed the line. It was a frustrating wait. But with Zirkzee, we’re thrilled. It’s a great start for him, it’s encouraging, and it will boost his confidence—as well as the fans’. We’re very pleased.”

WHY BRING HIM TO THE CLUB?
“He brings qualities we didn’t have before, and he’s already demonstrated that. He’s excellent at linking up play and combining with teammates, and we have some skilled offensive players who can benefit from that. But most importantly, he needs to get into the box and score goals, which he did. Scoring the winning goal is very satisfying for everyone.”

INTEGRATING HIM INTO THE SQUAD
“We developed a tailored program for him, considering his situation. He had an injury towards the end of his time at Bologna and wasn’t initially selected for the Euros. However, when another player dropped out, he was called up. He returned from his holiday after the Euros, and we decided he needed to build up his fitness. He had some deficits, so we created an individual program to improve his fitness before integrating him into team training.”

AN UPDATE ON SANCHO
“First, we need squad depth to survive this season. I can only include 20 players in the squad, so I have to make tough choices. During the week, Sancho had an ear infection and wasn’t 100% fit. He could have played, but we preferred to have other players on the bench. This will change as the season progresses because we have to rotate the squad—we can’t use the same lineup for every game. Substitutes are crucial, and it’s all about maintaining balance. Sometimes it’s frustrating for the players and the club, but there will be more competition for places. We expect everyone to fight for the club. There are many games ahead, and everyone will get their chance to prove themselves.”

WORRYING TO NOT SCORE?
“One area we need to improve on is being more clinical in the box. You saw it in the friendlies, and you saw it against City last week—we’re creating enough chances, but we can’t keep relying on a late winner. We should be securing a lead earlier in the game, and we need to be more composed and decisive in front of goal.”

WHY IS THAT?
“This could be partly because it’s the start of the season, and players are still getting up to full speed. We have enough players in the squad who can score, and the most important thing is that we’re creating those chances.”

GARNACHO ON THE BENCH?
“Just like with Zirkzee, Alejandro needed time to recover after a demanding schedule—playing in the FA Cup final and then in the Copa America. After that, he had only one match before taking a break, which was necessary. We had to gradually reintegrate him during the tour. Ideally, he would have been on the tour from the start to work on his fitness. After a long season, especially for a young player, a break was essential. He joined pre-season late, and we have other wingers who have been performing well. That’s why he started on the bench. Similar to Zirkzee and Sancho, Garnacho will get his opportunities to play and start in the coming weeks and months.”

CASEMIRO’S ROLE?
“Casemiro’s responsibilities as a midfielder include both defending and attacking. He’s well-known for his excellent passing, and I believe his overall performance was very strong—exactly what we expect from him. He’s a solid organizer, excellent at making interceptions, strong in duels, and effective with his passes.”