Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee blamed his side’s lack of clinical edge for their disappointing draw against Real Sociedad.
Zirkzee gave United a deserved lead in the second half, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to level from the spot with the hosts’ first shot on target after the referee awarded them a penalty, courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes handball.
United had multiple chances to put the game but they failed to do so. Aritz Elustondo produced blocks to deny Fernandes and Zirkzee in quick succession during the opening 45 minutes.
Alejandro Garnacho also had sights of goal but his efforts didn’t really trouble Alex Remiro in the Sociedad goal.
Zirkzee spoke to TNT Sports after the final whistle and had his say on the penalty decision and the result.
The Netherlands international said, “There was more in it for us tonight I think. We were unlucky with the penalty. I’m not sure what happened there but it shows we have to be relentless with our chances. I think we had enough of them today.”
“In the end a draw away and now they have to come to Old Trafford.”
Asked whether United should have clinched a first-leg lead, Zirkzee replied, “I think if you look at the chances and the opportunities we had, I think yes.”
“We’re obviously playing against a good footballing team, so of course it’s not easy but in the end, I think we should have had at least one more.”
On his goal, he remarked, “The team needed it and that’s what’s most important. I’m happy but we needed to win and we didn’t, so we’re just going to focus on the next games and when they come back, we’re going to have to be better than we were today.”
“If you see the way the stadium reacts to the penalty and the way they press after the goal, it’s obvious they needed it [the penalty]. It’s logical, it’s normal but I feel like we could do better, remain calm and just keep playing the way we did before.”
“I think we lost [momentum] a little bit after that but yeah, next game.”
“It shows we have to be relentless with our chances, we had enough of them today”
Goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee is disappointed with Man United’s draw against Real Sociedad, but is ready to face them at Old Trafford 💪
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Zirkzee reiterated that all that matters is to win the return leg next week.
Featured image Ion Alcoba Beitia via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
