Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during a Premier League soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Zirkzee, who found the back of the net in the 87th minute of the game to give Erik Ten Hag and Co. a winning start to the campaign relished having netted on his United debut.
Manchester United opened the 2024-25 season of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Fulham at the Craven Cottage on Saturday thanks to the lone strike from new signing Joshua Zirkzee.
Zirkzee, who found the back of the net in the 87th minute of the game to give Erik Ten Hag and Co. a winning start to the campaign relished having netted on his United debut.
The 23-year-old Dutchman expressed his delight on his brilliant outing pointing out the incredible feeling he experienced netting in front of the fabled Stretford End.
“A great feeling, it couldn’t be any better. What can I say? Debut, winning, scoring in front of the Stretford End, so yeah, it’s unbelievable,” he said.
“I mean yeah, first game, first goal, it’s always a relief to have that off your shoulders, but it goes on and we’re just going to work for the next game.”
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Zirkzee further spoke about his decision to join the English giants terming the Red Devils the biggest club on the planet.
“Why Manchester United? Some people might be crazy, but, for me, I mean this is the biggest club in the world, so it wasn’t a difficult choice to make to be honest.”
United have been provided a boost with the return of former striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy as a coach and Zikrzee touched upon the privilege of working under the Dutch legend.
“Yeah, it’s a privilege to have someone like that,” Zirkzee said.
“As a striker, it’s not every day you have someone that you grew up watching, so yeah, that’s pretty much it, but everybody in the staff up to now has been great and I enjoy working with these people a lot,” the youngster added.
“It’s not just him, but obviously it’s an extra privilege,” he grinned.
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Manchester United, who finished the previous season in eighth place, look to improve on their showing and have started off on the right track.