After Joshua Zirkzee netted a dramatic late winner on his debut for Manchester United, Fulham’s coach Marco Silva expressed his disappointment. Silva observed that Erik ten Hag’s United squad tends to excel when the game opens up and becomes more stretched.
United’s prowess on the counter-attack was clear during the match, a point also highlighted by Pep Guardiola following the Community Shield. The team often poses the greatest threat when the opposition has the ball rather than when United is in possession.
As Fulham pushed for a late equalizer at Old Trafford and lost possession high up the pitch, Manchester United capitalized on the opportunity with their usual precision. Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Alejandro Garnacho combined effectively to set up Zirkzee, who coolly flicked the ball into the net. This goal made Zirkzee the third Dutch player to score on his debut for Manchester United against Fulham, joining Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.
Ahead of their upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion, Brighton’s manager Fabian Hurzeler is keen to avoid a repeat scenario. Hurzeler emphasized the need for maintaining strong positional discipline and spacing to thwart Manchester United’s transition opportunities.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, relayed through Brighton’s YouTube channel, Hurzeler said, “When we are in possession, we need to ensure good positioning and proper distance from each other to prevent their transition moments. This will be crucial.”
Despite missing Rasmus Højlund due to a hamstring injury, Ten Hag has numerous attacking options as Manchester United readies for their first away game of the season. Alejandro Garnacho, who made a significant impact off the bench against Manchester City, also shone against Fulham with a vibrant performance. His cross was converted by Zirkzee at the near post.
Ten Hag might also consider giving Zirkzee, who was acquired for £36 million from Bologna, his first start. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount have been playing as ‘false nines’ this season, and Hurzeler recognizes the differences this approach presents. “There is a difference when Zirkzee is playing. He is a target player,” Hurzeler explained. “When Mount and Bruno Fernandes play as strikers, they function more as false nines. We need to prepare for both scenarios to be as well-prepared as possible.”
Hurzeler commended Manchester United’s individual quality, noting players like Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, Garnacho, and Mount. “The strength of this team lies in their individual quality, and you must stay alert throughout the game,” he said. “They can decide a match with a single moment of brilliance, even if they haven’t been heavily involved. My team needs to stay focused for the full 90 minutes, especially during transitions.”
Under Hurzeler, Brighton delivered a strong performance in his first official match, defeating Everton 3-0 with help from a red card to former Manchester United captain Ashley Young. Kaoru Mitoma and summer signing Yankuba Minteh were particularly effective on the flanks. Hurzeler confirmed that Minteh will be available for the next game after recovering from a concussion sustained in the Everton match.
Given this, Diogo Dalot and the impressive Noussair Mazraoui, who made a notable debut for United against Fulham, could face a challenging evening at The Amex.
