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Erik ten Hag highlights key difference between Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United

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Joshua Zirkzee became the sixth Dutchman to score on his Old Trafford debut for Man United, having arrived from Bologna last month.

Erik ten Hag is convinced Joshua Zirkzee will bring attributes to Manchester United that they did not have after his goalscoring debut against Fulham.

Zirkzee scored the only goal in the 87th minute to secure an opening Premier League win for United, having joined from Bologna for £36.5million last month.

Zirkzee is the sixth Dutchman to score on their Old Trafford debut for United after Jordi Cruyff, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, Alexander Buttner and Donny van de Beek.

It doesn’t matter if he’s Dutch, English, Russian or South American,” Ten Hag said. “It’s Manchester United, a Manchester United player and it’s very good for a striker going into Manchester United and to score the winning goal in his first game.

“Remember last season in his first game, Rasmus Hojlund scored in his first game (at Old Trafford against Brighton), we were waiting on the halfway line, VAR, and after two minutes they came to the conclusion the ball was slightly over the line. Then it took (Hojlund) long and it was so frustrating. It’s very pleasing, very happy for him (Zirkzee), it will encourage him, give him belief, for the fans, for everyone, it’s a very good start.

“But he has to arrive in the box to score goals, because the main attribute for a striker is scoring goals and he did, and if it’s the winner it’s very pleasing for everyone.”

When asked about Zirkzee’s integration, Ten Hag added: “We looked to everyone individually as to what is the right programme. He had an injury at the end of his career at Bologna and then he wasn’t selected and I think that was due to the injury that they didn’t select him for the Euros.

“But then a player dropped out, they selected him, he came from his holiday and after the Euros we decided he has to build up his fitness.

“He had some deficits there, he has had an individual programme to build up his fitness and to bring him into team training.”

Fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho created Zirkzee’s goal, having scored against City last week. Garnacho’s bench role at Wembley signalled an end to his 38-match starting run for United stretching back to last October.

The 20-year-old has scored one goal and created United’s other in his two performances off the bench but Ten Hag is comfortable with easing Garnacho back into the team.

“Last game was FA Cup final,” Ten Hag explained. “Then he played Copa America, but he only played one game. Then he had a break – he needed a break – we couldn’t bring him into the tour. Fitness-wise it was probably the best choice to be on tour and work on his fitness but after a long season, especially a young player, he needed a break. So he came late into pre-season.

“And we have some players in the wide areas who are performing in this moment very well. That’s why he started on the bench. He will have his minutes, he will have his starts, definitely. So that will come in the coming weeks and months.”

Man chester news Europe

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