With three points, a clean sheet, and no injuries to dampen the spirits of the Old Trafford faithful, Manchester United have enjoyed a good Premier League opening night.
It was a requirement following an uncertain end of season and a widely-publicised Ineos review, with the eyes of the football world firmly set on Erik ten Hag.
For many of the familiar mainstream outlets, his side would disappoint this evening – with plenty touting Fulham to upset a capacity crowd.
But, there is an undeniable sense of positivity surrounding the football club, and the players responded for large portions of the fixture.
It wasn’t perfect, and some areas require fine-tuning, but it was day one following a congested pre-season with many new faces integrating with the returning pack.
Furthermore, this is a tie that Marco Silva’s side earned three points from last season and one that Ten Hag’s men have generally struggled to overcome.
Dutch delight for the Stretford End
Cautious optimism has been the general feeling in the North West, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe overseeing an impressive overhaul during a relatively short period.
Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui were officially unveiled to the Old Trafford faithful before kick-off, enhancing the buzz in the historic ground.
To their credit, the Cottagers started brightly, determined to spoil the festivities – with Andre Onana made to work early on through an ambitious Kenny Tete effort.
That seemed to spur United to life, with Bernd Leno superbly denying three separate opportunities – twice through Bruno Fernandes and once through the impressive Mason Mount.
Harry Maguire was impressive throughout, as was new-man Mazraoui, with both men supplying an assured sense of composure in defence and the build-up.
It was not a vintage display from the home side and their deficiencies were exposed on several occasions through a determined Fulham counter-plan.
But, in an equally notable manner, United responded and dealt with each scenario comfortably.
The breakthrough came late through the new arrival Zirkzee, with the former Bologna man becoming the third United Dutchman to net on his Premier League debut.
He was introduced on the hour mark alongside Alejandro Garnacho, with Ten Hag utilising his bench to unhinge Silva’s side.
The pair combined late on, with the Argentine delivering a cross for Zirkzee to expertly guide the ball past the impressive Leno.
Garnacho was presented with a stellar opportunity to seal the win in the final minute of stoppage time – but the youngster placed his effort wide from 12 yards with an empty net ahead of him.
“It’s just [the] first game. But it’s good to strengthen the belief, confidence in the team,” Ten Hag told media afterwards.
“It’s not only the win but also the performance that’s okay. And, I have seen many spaces where we can, and where we have to, improve.
“But that’s normal, first game of the season.”
His side is on the road to Brighton on Saturday week, with ample time to develop further cohesion within the squad.
A win is a win, and there are plenty of positives from what could have been a difficult evening in Manchester.
How do you feel after this evening’s win? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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