I dedicate my Man of the Match award to Him,He works tirelessly to earn us that point yesterday and I’m not going to overlook His performance”, Joshua Zirkzee reveals the only Man United player that was the Key factor towards their success yesterday – Not Fernandez and Not Garnacho

Manchester United kicked off their Premier League season with a gritty 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday. The match was a tough battle, with United creating more scoring opportunities, though Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, delivered an outstanding performance to keep his team in the game. However, it was Joshua Zirkzee who finally found the breakthrough for United, scoring in the 87th minute to secure the win.

As the match wound down, Alejandro Garnacho had a golden chance to double United’s lead during stoppage time, but he failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Despite this, the night belonged to Zirkzee, who marked his debut with a crucial goal and earned the title of man of the match. Nonetheless, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also stood out with a remarkable display. Mainoo was relentless in his efforts, winning an impressive 13 ground and aerial duels. He also showcased his passing accuracy, completing 90 percent of his passes, including a perfect record with long balls (3/3). Additionally, Mainoo successfully executed four take-ons and drew four fouls from Fulham.

After the match, Mainoo took to Instagram to express his joy, captioning his post with “No place like home” and referring to Zirkzee as a “hitman.” Zirkzee responded by acknowledging Mainoo’s contributions, calling him the “General.” United’s performance in this season opener was notably stronger compared to their first match last season against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where they managed to scrape a win despite a lackluster display. Although United showed improvements, there remains a need for further refinement on both sides of the pitch. For instance, Bruno Fernandes missed two clear opportunities in the first half, and Garnacho’s missed chance in the final moments should have been converted.

Fulham, on the other hand, posed little threat with only two shots on target throughout the match. However, one area of concern for United was the gap between their attack and defense, a weakness highlighted by Casemiro’s positioning. The Brazilian midfielder was influential in attack, contributing three shots and creating two chances in the first half alone. Despite his offensive efforts, his primary responsibility is to anchor the defense, and in this regard, he fell short. Casemiro lost possession 13 times and was dribbled past twice, indicating that United may still need to strengthen their midfield by bringing in a high-caliber defensive player to provide competition and depth alongside the former Real Madrid star.Manchester United kicked off their Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford. The match was a closely contested affair, with United generating more scoring opportunities, but Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, was in top form, making several crucial saves. In the end, it was Joshua Zirkzee who broke the deadlock, scoring in the 87th minute to secure the win for United on his debut, earning him the man of the match title.

Alejandro Garnacho had a chance to seal the victory with a second goal during stoppage time but was unable to convert. Despite this, Zirkzee’s late goal was the defining moment of the match. However, Kobbie Mainoo also put in an outstanding performance, excelling in both defensive and offensive duties. Mainoo won 13 ground and aerial duels, completed 90% of his passes, including three successful long balls, executed four take-ons, and drew four fouls. His impressive display solidified his growing reputation as a key player for United.

After the match, Mainoo expressed his happiness on Instagram, referring to Old Trafford as “home” and calling Zirkzee a “hitman.” Zirkzee responded by acknowledging Mainoo’s leadership on the pitch, calling him the “General.”

United’s performance in this season opener was notably better than their lackluster showing in last season’s opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where they narrowly won. While United showed signs of improvement, there is still room for refinement, particularly in finishing chances, as demonstrated by Bruno Fernandes’ missed opportunities in the first half and Garnacho’s late miss.

Fulham offered little in attack, managing only two shots on target. However, one concern for United was the space between their attack and defense, partly due to Casemiro’s positioning. The Brazilian was active in attack, with three shots and two created chances in the first half, but his defensive duties suffered. Casemiro lost possession 13 times and was dribbled past twice, suggesting that United might still need to strengthen their midfield by bringing in a high-caliber defensive midfielder to provide competition and support.