What will have hurt Ruben Amorim even more than Manchester United’s 1-4 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday was the fact that Joshua Zirkzee picked up what seemed like a hamstring injury.
He was handed the nod to start after Rasmus Hojlund’s disastrous display against Olympique Lyonnais last Thursday and was in fine fettle before pulling up in the second half clutching the back of his thigh.
The head coach revealed that the Dutchman would miss the season-defining Europa League quarter-final second leg tie, a huge blow considering his improved form.
The former Bologna ace has six goals under the Portuguese tactician having netted only once under former boss Erik ten Hag and his overall gameplay has also earned the boss’ praise.
Zirkzee turnaround
A great turnaround considering his difficult start to life in Manchester. Things got so toxic that certain sections of the fanbase even booed him off the pitch during the first league game against Newcastle this season.
It was on the final day of last year when he suffered the ignominy of being subbed off early in the first-half and was close to tears.
But the fanbase rallied together and backed him incessantly in following games, even after he missed a penalty in the FA Cup and their vociferous support has not gone unnoticed.
In an interview with club media, Zirkzee thanked the fans and urged them to come together to support the team on Thursday.
He mentioned how the atmosphere against Real Sociedad in the Round of 16 was electric and how that contributed to a famous win on that night even after the hosts had gone behind very early on.
Thanks fans
“Of course, it wasn’t the best period,” he conceded. “We all know what happened and for the fans to stand behind me, like they did back then, was maybe even a relief.
“For them to show that they’re not giving up on me. To just show that they’re still behind me. As I said before, it just motivates you a lot. It motivates you.
“I think we’ve seen, against Real Sociedad, when we got 1-0 behind, the fans just kept going. That atmosphere that they can create, it’s something you won’t find anywhere else on this planet. It’s amazing what people on the outside of the pitch can do for the people on the pitch as well.”
The Old Trafford faithful have never let the team down. It is time the players step up in the absence of Zirkzee to notch a memorable win to save what has been a dismal season so far.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
