JOSHUA ZIRKZEE has revealed what Erik ten Hag told him just minutes before he got Manchester United’s season up and running.
The £36.5million summer signing from Bologna came off the bench to score the winner in the Red Devils’ season opener against Fulham, striking in the 87th minute.
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And The Netherlands international was well and truly fired up as he took to the hallowed Old Trafford turf thanks to some last-minute encouragement from Ten Hag.
“To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve been told [scoring at the Stretford End] is one of the best feelings at Man Utd.
“I’m so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It’s an amazing feeling.
“At the end of the day, we got the win, that’s all we wanted. I can’t really explain the feeling, it’s just very nice.
“I feel very warm here. It’s a great team. We want to achieve something great. It’s been amazing, it’s been a dream actually.
“The manager told me to bring an energy and help the team as much as possible, just that.
“Manchester United is a huge club. You should always strive for the best.
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“That includes day-by-day giving 100%, that’s the plan. It’s all good vibes.”
Zirkzee, 23, replaced Mason Mount in the 61st minute of the Prem opener.
Although he ultimately broke the deadlock, the majority of his touches came OUTSIDE of the box.
In fact, out of his 12 touches, only ONE of them was inside the 18-yard box, his crucial conversion of Alejandro Garnacho‘s cross.
Ten Hag was impressed by Zirkzee’s goalscoring debut but wants to see more from the young forward.
He said: “Scoring for a striker is important and he should be where he was.
“But he has more qualities and he has to get the right balance – he has to be arriving in the box to get the finishes, but we also want him to link up.
“We have some great midfielders around him to make up combinations.
“First game, but it is good to strengthen the belief. I have seen many spaces where we have to improve but that is normal.”
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