Welcome to the 2024-2025 Premier League season! Football has become our escape, our remedy for the troubles of everyday life. Whether it’s you, me, our parents, or our children, we’re all a bit addicted to this sweet drug called football.
For this first evening, Manchester United snatched victory against Fulham in a match that was anything but restful. What made this match difficult was neither Ten Hag's strategies nor his player choices, but rather Bruno Fernandes. During this season opener, Fernandes really tested the patience of Manchester fans. In the first half, he missed several chances, and it was getting frustrating. On his part, Casemiro reminded everyone of his best years, those of 2017-2018, when Manchester fans dreamt of having him on their team.
We really need to go back over this match from start to finish. Let’s talk about Joshua Zirkzee, who, in just fifteen minutes of play, was crucial for Manchester United. Even though we hadn’t seen much of him in preseason, and barely against Manchester City, Zirkzee proved he was not just strong but also very clever on the field.
At the end of the match, Marcus Rashford made a pass to Garnacho, who missed a golden opportunity. Imagine if the score had stayed tied... Ten Hag would have had a lot to deal with in the locker room.
Zirkzee demonstrated that football isn’t just about muscles. He showed great finesse by receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes and intelligently redirecting it to Casemiro, who then set up Garnacho to score.
Manchester United’s play was smoother than last season. The introduction of Mazraoui as right-back was very noticeable. The central defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire provided solid defense against Fulham.
Some tactical decisions, like the substitutions of central defenders at the end of the match, were a bit confusing. Manchester United let Fulham take the lead at the beginning of the match before regaining control.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes had several opportunities to score. After the first fifteen minutes, Manchester United took control of the game, showing impressive aggression and dominance.
This victory for Manchester United bodes well for the coming season. With the return of injured players and the integration of new ones, the team seems ready to face all challenges. The performances of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire in defense were particularly noteworthy.
This season opener for Manchester United was very encouraging. Supporters can hope to see great improvements and solid performances throughout the year.
See you soon, and may the peace and mercy of God be upon you.
