Joshua Zirkzee will still be reeling off the highs of his Manchester United debut well into next week.
While he perhaps would’ve preferred to have been named in the starting 11 prior to kick-off, the feeling of coming off the bench in the second half of a cagey match to go on and score the winner is the stuff of dreams for young players.
It’s no secret that the Premier League is a tough nut to crack. Plenty arrive and leave without ever really making their mark on the English top-flight, but tonight’s affairs will have hopefully given Zirkzee the confidence boost to build on such a high – so much so that Erik ten Hag is soon left with a headache on which forward to start when Rasmus Hojlund returns.
Nonetheless, the manager will have to cross that bridge when he gets to it. Until then, Zirkzee is happy enough taking each day in his stride.
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Zirkzee’s immediate reaction to his emphatic debut
The former Bayern Munich ace was beaming in his post-match interview with Sky Sports. When asked how it felt to bag a goal in front of the iconic Stretford End, he replied: “I’ve been told it’s one of the best feelings at Man United. I’m so thankful and blessed [that] 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,” Zirkzee continued. “We want to achieve something great. It’s been amazing – it’s been a dream, actually.”
"Couldn't be better" 😁
Joshua Zirkzee reacts to scoring the winning goal for Manchester United on his debut 🤩🔴 pic.twitter.com/sEKLE6wmfW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2024
Footage courtesy of Sky Sports.