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Dimitar Berbatov: Two Man United stars deserved MOTM over Joshua Zirkzee despite winning goal

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Credit: PLP

Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory against Fulham in their opening match of the 2024/25 Premier League season and Joshua Zirkzee was awarded Man of the Match on his debut.

The Reds delivered a solid performance but struggled to capitalise on the opportunities they created throughout the game.

Bruno Fernandes had the two best chances in the first half but was thwarted by Bernd Leno on both occasions.

Erik ten Hag’s side impressed with their pressing and created several openings, but the familiar story of missed chances persisted until Joshua Zirkzee entered the fray.

The Dutch striker netted a superb goal in the final minutes of the game to secure three points in his first appearance for the club.

Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov believed that Zirkzee’s comfortability on the ball was the most impressive aspect of his cameo despite scoring the only goal of the game.

“As I said before, asking for the ball – ‘just give me the ball’. It shows confidence, but also it shows you sometimes how football works,” Berbatov told Premier League Productions.

However, the 43-year-old then claimed that either Bruno Fernandes or Casemiro deserved the Man of the Match award that Zirkzee received at the end of the game.

“You score one goal, and you are Man of the Match,” he continued. “Obviously, the goal is the most important, but in this case, I agree with Owen [Hargreaves that] Casemiro or Bruno Fernandes deserved it more than him.

“But football is sometimes like this: you score a goal, and you’re Man of the Match.

“A lot of work to be done yet for him as I can see from the interview, he is very shy in a way so he still finding his footing around the club probably.

“But he’s in the box he’s attacking the ball, he’s asking for the ball it’s a good start for him so he probably be buzzing.

Ruud [van Nistelrooy] will be buzzing as well, probably telling him what he did right or wrong so he’ll be ready for the next game.”


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