Manchester United opened up their 2024/25 Premier League marketing campaign with a 1-0 win over Fulham, however they had been pressured to work laborious for all three factors.
The Crimson Devils toiled towards a usually well-drilled Cottagers outfit that did not benefit from the moments they’d on the counter-attack. United, although, had been doubtlessly the superior facet and finally good worth for his or her victory given the probabilities they created within the absence of a quantity 9.
Finally, although, it was a recognised striker that made all of the distinction.
Listed here are 4 issues United supporters realized from their opening evening victory.
Rasmus Hojlund’s hamstring damage means summer time arrival Zirkzee has an enormous position to play firstly of United’s 2024/25 marketing campaign. A restricted pre-season, nevertheless, meant the Dutch ahead was ignored of Ten Hag’s beginning XI on Friday evening as United went striker-less.
Nevertheless, with the hosts struggling to penetrate, Zirkzee was launched for his Premier League debut on the hour.
The previous Bayern Munich striker has arrived with the popularity of being extra of a facilitator than a goalscorer. Amid a superb season with Bologna in 2023/24, Zirkzee scored simply 11 Serie A objectives.
He was introduced on the make the distinction towards Fulham, however a lot of his cameo was merely neat and tidy. Zirkzee dropped off the guests’ defensive position to be able to obtain possession, however it was this motion which set the stage for his winner three minutes from time. After receiving possession in a deeper place, Zirkzee distributed the ball huge, entered the field, and poked house the primary aim of the 2024/25 season from an Alejandro Garnacho cross.
Roberto Firmino, eat your coronary heart out.
Man Utd’s 2023/24 marketing campaign was suffering from their woes out of possession. A disconnected press left gaping voids between their defensive traces, with groups usually having far an excessive amount of success penetrating proper via the guts of United’s midfield. They merely could not include the counter-attack.
Friday evening provided some encouragement. The hosts brightest moments within the ultimate third arrived off the again of a excessive regain.
Ten Hag is constant with a 4-4-2 press, however it’s clear that points nonetheless stay. Whereas the likes of Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis work in full unison when urgent excessive, United will not be but functioning as a collective from high to backside.
Typically, only one or two had been late to leap which allowed Fulham to bypass and transition with ease. Left-back Antonee Robinson was usually the person left spare. A disconnected press allowed Fulham to dominate possession within the opening levels, however Ten Hag’s structural tweaks did hand them larger management with out the ball and ensured they grew into the sport.
There have been constructive indicators, however some teething points stay. Maybe that is to be anticipated on opening evening.
Ten Hag confirmed within the week that United’s two new recruits had been prepared for Friday’s sport, however just one, Mazraoui, received the nod. Matthijs de Ligt finally changed the Moroccan full-back 81 minutes in.
The previous Bayern Munich defender operated at right-back on Friday and produced a distinctly composed debut. Whereas United supporters had gotten used to the technically erratic performances of Aaron Wan-Bissaka down the best flank, Mazraoui goes about his work in full distinction.
A cool buyer who’s adept working in a myriad of zones, Mazraoui drifted inside to function centrally, even taking over superior positions between the traces, and mixed effectively down his flank. He is technically excellent and the convenience at which he slotted in needs to be vastly encouraging.
Early on, the defender made an important intervention to disclaim Alex Iwobi from getting a shot off after Adama Traore broke fiercely down the best. The deal with set the tone for a formidable Premier League debut.
Ten Hag mentioned again in July that he and Sancho had “drawn a line” below their earlier variations, probably setting the stage for a renaissance from the winger at Previous Trafford.
After falling out together with his Dutch supervisor final season, Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on mortgage and shone because the German membership reached the Champions League ultimate.
There was an expectation that Sancho would go away Manchester this summer time, however Ten Hag’s feedback and the minutes earned by the Englishman in pre-season recommended Sancho was again within the supervisor’s good books and able to play a task in 2024/25. He got here off the bench throughout Man Utd’s Group Defend defeat final weekend.
Thus, questions had been raised when it was revealed that Sancho was absent from Friday’s matchday squad. Nevertheless, Ten Hag confirmed pre-match that the winger had been coping with an ear an infection within the build-up to the sport, saying he “most popular others on the bench”.
It does not appear as if there’s any extra to it, however Sancho’s state of affairs could also be one to observe heading into the ultimate two weeks of the summer time window.
