"He's a Manchester United player." Erik ten Hag commented on Zirkzee's debut in the team

Yesterday, the first match of the 2024/25 English Premier League season took place, with Manchester United hosting Fulham. The hosts secured a narrow victory thanks to a late goal from Joshua Zirkzee.

After the match, Red Devils' head coach Erik ten Hag expressed his delight at how quickly the team's new signing integrated and made an impressive debut. He stated, as quoted by the Daily Mail:

"It doesn't matter if he's Dutch, English, or South American, he's a Manchester United player.

It's great for a forward to score the winning goal in his first game.

I remember Rasmus Højlund's debut when he scored, only for VAR to disallow the goal. He was so disappointed. As for [Zirkzee], I'm very happy for him—this will give him and the fans confidence. It's a very good start."

When asked what attracted him to Zirkzee, Ten Hag replied:

"He has many qualities we were lacking, and he demonstrated them immediately.

He's very good in link-up play, in combinations. We have attacking players who are strong on the ball, and they can benefit from this."

The United coach also commented on Jadon Sancho's absence from the matchday squad:

"First of all, we need squad depth. This season, only the strongest survive, and I can only include 20 players in the squad.

Jadon had an ear infection this week and wasn't 100% ready for this game."

It is believed that Sancho's standing within the team improved over the summer, but his missed penalty in the Community Shield surprised many at the club.