Erik ten Hag Expresses Concerns Over Wasted Chances

by Nicholas Edwards · 16/08/2024

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag highlights concerns over missed chances despite a 1-0 win over Fulham, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring a late winner in the Premier League opener.

Bollywood Fever: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed his concerns about his team’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham in their Premier League opener on Friday. Despite securing the win, ten Hag emphasized that wasted chances remain a significant issue for his side.

An optimistic crowd at Old Trafford was left underwhelmed for much of the match as United struggled to create clear-cut openings. When chances did arise, they were mostly squandered, leaving the result in doubt until substitute Joshua Zirkzee netted a late winner on his debut.

“I think one area we have to get right is how to kill [games] in the box,” ten Hag told reporters after the match. “We saw it in the friendlies and last week against [Manchester] City [in United’s Community Shield loss]. We created enough chances and should not have to wait for a late winner. We have to be more composed and kill teams.”

The late winner came courtesy of Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who stepped off the bench to convert a cross from Alejandro Garnacho, securing the three points for United.

“He [Zirkzee] had an injury at the end of his career at Bologna and he was not selected for the European Championship [for the Netherlands]. We have to build up some deficits. He has some attributes we didn’t have and straight away he showed it,” ten Hag noted. “He is very good in his linking up combinations. We have some very good ball-playing combinations in the team. But he has to arrive in the box to score goals and he did that tonight. He is a Man United player and it is very good for a striker coming in and scoring his first goal.”

As United progresses into the season, ten Hag will be keen to see his team improve their finishing in front of goal, ensuring they can secure victories more comfortably and avoid relying on late drama to clinch results.

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