Getting the brand new Premier League marketing campaign underway on Friday evening, Manchester United dragged themselves to a late 1-0 victory in opposition to Fulham at Previous Trafford.
Watching Bruno Fernandes miss a pair of golden alternatives within the first-half Erik ten Hag’s aspect appeared destined to accept an uninspiring begin to proceedings right here.
Nevertheless, whereas Fulham may need loved massive spells of dominance on both aspect of the half-time break, the Cottagers have been ultimately left heartbroken as summer season recruit Joshua Zirkzee opened his Premier League tenure with a sensational cameo look.
Coming off the bench and sweeping residence with simply three minutes left on the clock, United would have merely been glad to have gotten the brand new marketing campaign with a vital victory on residence soil.
On an evening when Manchester United obtained proceedings underway with a gritty last-gasp 1-0 win, we now have taken a have a look at the primary speaking factors from Previous Trafford.
United drag themselves to a vital opening victory
Whereas Manchester United may need obtained their fingers on a history-making thirteenth FA Cup trophy again on Might twenty sixth as they secured a 2-1 victory in opposition to bitter native rivals Man Metropolis, ten Hag’s aspect discovered themselves on the coronary heart of an actual Premier League wrestle final season.
Nevertheless, though the Pink Devils ultimately needed to accept an eighth-place end final 12 months, the Previous Trafford hierarchy did make the choice to stay with the previous Ajax boss over the summer season.
Whereas ten Hag may need averted the chop within the purple half of Manchester and managed to maintain maintain of his job, the Dutch tactician nonetheless has loads of strain on his shoulders and a Champions League return is on the high of his agenda.
Dragging themselves over the ending line right here and determined to make use of Friday’s late winner as a platform to construct on, the euphoria that accompanied the ultimate whistle was in line with the optimism that surrounded United within the build-up to the sport.
Though the likes of England worldwide Marcus Rashford may need did not kickstart his Previous Trafford profession on Friday evening, United would have been relived to beat what might have been a possible banana pores and skin.
Zirkzee makes an instantaneous impression on his Premier League debut
Whereas the Bayern Munich duo of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt may need made their respective Manchester United debuts on Friday evening, it was one other one in every of ten Hag’s new recruits who stole the entire headlines right here.
Though Zirkzee may need solely registered *** minutes for the Netherlands at this summer season’s European Championships, there was loads of pleasure round Previous Trafford following his arrival final month.
Finishing a transfer to the purple half of Manchester after agreeing on a reported charge within the area of £36million with Italian outfit Bologna, the 23-year-old obtained his Premier League tenure off to a dream begin this weekend.
Sweeping residence late on and sending the Previous Trafford help into overdrive, Zirkzee has shortly blossomed into one in every of Europe’s hottest younger attacking stars and is predicted to play a number one position for United this season.
Spearheading Bologna’s cost to a shocking Champions League ticket final season, the two-cap worldwide scored 12 objectives in 37 Serie A appearances final season.
Fulham ought to take the positives away from their Previous Trafford journey
Claiming what was a well-known 2-1 victory once they travelled to Previous Trafford again on February twenty fourth, Fulham have been determined to spring one other heavyweight upset once they arrived within the purple half of Manchester on Friday evening.
Nevertheless, whereas Marco Silva’s males may need suffered last-gasp heartbreak right here as they opened proceedings with a 1-0 defeat, the previous Everton boss ought to take loads of positives away from their efficiency right here.
Dominating the opening 20 minutes and inflicting United a string of points, the Cottagers will look to mud themselves down shortly as they bid to e-book a top-half return this season.
Signing off the 2023/24 marketing campaign by mustering only a pair of wins from their ultimate 9 Premier League appearances, Fulham and Silva will know that stability is vital this time round.
Though the west London outfit may need failed to come back away from Previous Trafford with not less than a degree to indicate for his or her troubles, Silva’s aspect now have a pair of alternatives on the horizon as they meet top-flight returners Leicester and Ipswich earlier than the tip of the month.
Match Report
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Maison, Diallo, Mount, Rashford, Fernandes
Subs: de Ligt, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Evans, McTominay
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Muniz
Subs: Cairney, Stansfield, Wilson, Jimenez, Reed
Objectives: Zirkzee (87’)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester United: Mount, Maguire – Fulham: Pereira, Bassey, Cairney
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Robert Jones
