Although there were not as many fireworks as fans had hoped for in the season opener between Manchester United and Fulham, the Red Devils nonetheless overcame 1-0 to start the campaign.
A winning goal from Joshua Zirkzee, the team's rookie striker, and a clean sheet against Fulham gave Erik ten Hag the platform he so desperately needs to begin what is hoped to be a new era at Manchester United. It was undoubtedly not the compelling and commanding performance ten Hag may have desired.
Ten Hag is aware that the previous season, when they mishandled their way past Wolves to begin a campaign that culminated in an eighth-place finish, was a similar tale. Although the team's performances must improve after they settle in, results are ultimately what matter. Arriving from Bologna in the summer, Zirkzee has exceeded expectations from the start by displaying a clinical approach that has been absent from Old Trafford for some years. Although the Dutch international's jabbed effort appeared to be a lucky break, it was actually precise finishing. The No. 11 shirt has been slightly tarnished since Ryan Giggs retired ten years ago.
When Zirkzee and fellow replacement Alejandro Garnacho tied the score in the 87th minute, Ten Hag and Old Trafford were finally able to let their tensions out in front of the Stretford End. The manager had decided to bring in the two players at the hour mark, when United was leading and he saw an opportunity to win the game. After two years of criticism on his choices and style, the Dutchman will feel a great sense of relief if his strategy succeeds.
The players left a renovated tunnel to emphasize to the public that this is a new era for United, since Old Trafford had seen several coats of paint over the summer. More than just aesthetic enhancements, Ten Hag's team sought to demonstrate that they had a distinct identity and the "United Way" he talks about, which was absent the previous season when they frequently appeared disorganized and unplanned.
After their lowest-ever Premier League finish of ninth, Avram Glazer and interim England manager Lee Carsley took their seats in the directors' box to determine whether a new era was about to dawn. After two straight league victories, United's last competitive match was the FA Cup victory, but taking a break for three months is bad for momentum. Together with Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and an injured Leny Yoro, Zirkzee led a march to demonstrate the public what the next generation looked like.
The first player to instill hope in the United supporters was Amad Diallo, who was preferred to Garnacho on the right. He tricked his way into the box, fell, and then claimed that Antonee Robinson had fouled him. However, his protests went unanswered. It was a sign that United had quality on the flanks, as Marcus Rashford and Garnacho demonstrated in brief bursts later on. Being a striker at Old Trafford is an enticing proposition.
Despite the apparent fresh optimism, United lacked mobility even though they were controlling possession and forcing Fulham backwards without scoring. At least Harry Maguire contributed tragicomedy when he chose to enter the box while Emile Smith Rowe was nearby. Although the center defender expressed dissatisfaction with the booking decision, it is unlikely that he would be given a spot at Rada very soon.
Even though United had the better of the possession, they were still having trouble completing. They were having trouble making an impact in the box again, having only managed 57 goals in the league the previous year. When Bernd Leno reacted fast in one-on-one situations, Bruno Fernandes squandered two excellent opportunities, and the German goalkeeper also made a great stop from Mason Mount.
United might have finished the game empty-handed if Maguire and Lisandro Martínez had not stepped in to intercept passes made by Andreas Pereira. It was a matter of narrow margins, which United cannot afford to keep up. By giving Fulham's record-breaking £34 million acquisition, Smith Rowe, lots of room to operate, they risked losing further games.
Ten Hag and his friends must demonstrate that their success was the result of sound decision rather than chance so they can expand on it. They lost four of their first seven games a year ago, and they never bounced back. On Friday night, the good things outnumbered the bad things, but there's still work to be done.
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