Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has expressed his frustration with his team’s inability to capitalise on scoring chances. This came after Joshua Zirkzee, a substitute, scored the decisive goal in the last three minutes of a match against Fulham.
Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount experienced multiple failed attempts to score during the game. Fernandes was repelled twice by Bernd Leno in face-to-face situations in the first half, and Mason Mount experienced a similar lack of success in the second half.
One of the key areas for improvement, according to Ten Hag, is being decisive in the penalty area. He observed that this was a recurring theme in the team’s pre-season games and the previous week’s game against City. He emphasised that his team was creating ample chances, but was often left waiting for a late goal. He stressed the need for players to show poise and lethality near the goal.
Zirkzee, the Netherlands player, finally secured a favourable start to the season with his goal in his first game for United. Ten Hag expressed delight for Zirkzee and expressed hope that it would boost his morale and earn him the supporters’ favour.
Zirkzee made his debut for United an hour into the game, following his transfer from Bologna in the summer. Speaking to the BBC, he described scoring in front of the Stretford End as the “perfect” debut. He mentioned that he felt settled since his arrival and complimented his teammates.
Jadon Sancho, on the other hand, couldn’t participate in the match due to suffering an ear infection in the week, leading to other substitutes being considered.
Manchester United’s opponents, Fulham also faced criticism from their coach, Marco Silva, for not capitalising on their opportunities. Silva pointed out moments when Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez intercepted passes from Andreas Pereira that halted potential goals. He particularly lamented instances where his team had numerical superiority but still failed to create clear chances.