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United start with a win
21:58
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Carragher: 'Huge result for United'
No team are going to be 100% in the first game. Every manager would say the same and you are trying to integrate new players, so everyone is in that situation.
We know the stakes are high for Erik ten Hag this season, the way he was treated last season on how we didn't know he was going to be in the job - it is a huge result for Man United tonight.
21:47
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Martinez: 'Important to get a clean sheet'
It is really important to get a clean sheet. We have to improve a lot. It is difficult to play for this big club but we love that. We have to play in a positive way. There was a good connection with the team, fans, subs. I haven’t played many games at left back but if the team needs me there I will give everything. Everyone is ready to play for every position.
I sent Traore to the gym. It is really difficult to play against his opponent, I learned from the first one. We are ready for everything, it is part of our job, if you have excuses, we are not ready for this club. I always believed in myself and strength. I know I am not really tall but I will show with my personality.
It is a different league and system, in Ajax we controlled more of the game, here we are trying, we showed good moments, but it is really different, everyone is quick, strong, good with the ball. When you know how the team wants to play it is better, the new signings knew from day one.
21:36
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Silva; 'Tough to take the way we lost'
It is really tough for us to lose this game the way we lost. The game had different moments, we started really well, I think the first two dangerous moments were from ourselves. The first one we should have scored, a really dangerous attack from us. After 20 minutes good reaction from Man United. We adjusted at half-time and the second half was much better in my opinion. We had our chances. When you play against Manchester United...there were moments and we had to punish them.
We had so many moments and we were punished at the end of the game. It was a crazy game and we did not play our own game. It was an emotional game, we tried to rush many, many times. We did not get the points I thought we deserved. Of course, when you have two against one you should at least finalise the action and put your teammates in the right action. But it was not just that one, we had other really good moments and should have scored.
We have to keep the emotional control in these types of games. We know they are strong and want to play this type of game. It's always their strength when the game is broken and the space is there. We should have kept the balance and emotional control. But it was a good answer from the team overall, we just didn't get the points I think we should have. It was a tough summer when you lose five players - four of them starting players. But I knew the players were good enough to play in this way.
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Ten Hag: 'Good to see Zirkzee score winner'
Subs are always very important and it is good to see him come on and score the winner, it is very good for the team process. It is very good, they have to be ready. Fulham are good on the ball but we pressed very well, we kept them under pressure and they had a lot of trouble and we created a lot of chances. The only criticism is we should have scored earlier, kill.
A clean sheet is very important. Two seasons ago we had the most in the league and I know when we have our consistent back four we will defend properly. It is so important to have a high line, if you don’t have a consistent back four then the gaps will come.
Scoring for a striker is important. He should be there to finish and kill but he has more qualities and he has to get the right balance. He has to arrive in the box but we want him to link up also. I have seen many places where we have to improve. I see some nice debuts. The win is very important, but I’m very happy no injuries today.
21:09
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Zirkzee: 'It's an amazing feeling'
To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn't be better. I've been told [scoring at the Stretford End] is one of the best feelings at Man Utd. I'm so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It's an amazing feeling.
At the end of the day, we got the win, that's all we wanted. I can't really explain the feeling, it's just very nice. I feel very warm here. It's a great team. We want to achieve something great. It's been amazing, it's been a dream actually.
The manager told me to bring energy and help the team as much as possible, just that. Manchester United is a huge club. You should always strive for the best. That includes day-by-day giving 100%, that's the plan. It's all good vibes."
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'Casemiro looks lean'
Casemiro looks leaner and lighter than last season and that certainly won’t harm him. He’s had a very good fifteen minutes here and his pass through for the second Bruno Fernandes chance was superb. Number nine, false nine or no nine, if midfield players create chances like that then teams will score goals.
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19:19
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'United looking like last season'
United looking very much like the team of last season – so far at least. Fulham have had the possession, shown the identifiable shape and pattern and as a result, have had the better chances. United once again playing as a counter-attacking team – but it’s early days
19:09
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'Fulham started well'
Fulham have started well here with Andreas Pereira at the heart of a lot that is good. One of the big concerns from Wembley was United's ability to defend crosses into the box. So far Fulham haven't been able to put that to the test but it's been an absorbing start. Adama Traore is still rapid, obviously
18:48
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Silva: 'Always possible to improve'
It is always possible to improve. Of course, we have lost four to five key players. We made three signings and we need to make more signings to have an impact in the team.
Some very good games in the pre-season, we need some new signings to have an impact - a clear ambition is to improve what we did in the last few seasons. We are going to sign one more player for that position (midfield). One player for our attacking line has to come.
18:38
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Keane: 'Smith-Rowe a good signing on paper'
I can see why they are excited. He is a good signing, lost his way last year or two. But he was outstanding, a goal threat and looks like a good signing on paper. He seems like a good fit for the player and club. Can he play week in, week out? It is a fitness doubt.
18:32
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'United should win tonight'
So another season of Snakes and Ladders begins at Manchester United. A look at tonight’s team tells me there are still holes to be filled. On the flip side, there are new starts for Rashford, Mount, and indeed Erik ten Hag. They should win tonight and my tip is a rather conservative and sensible 2-0.
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Carragher: 'This is Ten Hag's team now'
Of course, they had a lot of injuries last season. You look at the signings, you think they've been backed. He's spent a lot of money, Ten Hag. This is his team now, there are even five signings from Ajax now!
You go back to what happened last season, there were mitigating circumstances with the injuries. But when there are injuries, you still see a style of play. We can't see Fulham walking through the Man Utd midfield again...
18:06
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Pereira: 'Everyone is pumped'
We are delighted to be here and we want to start the season. It will be a good game for us as we did a good pre-season. We cannot wait to start the season here - last time we won here so we know we can do it.
We are very excited and everyone is pumped to start the season - I am happy to play the first game here as it's a special place for me.
17:50
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Neville: 'I'm optimistic'
I feel more optimistic because of the changes at the top and the negligence has been disrupted. They have spent on the training ground but got some serious football in who are not going to make the same basic mistakes, the profile of player that has been signed is very different.
17:35
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Dalot: 'We ARE ready'
Yes, we are ready. [Erik ten Hag was] taken out of context. What he means by this is we are not at the same stage pre-season-wise as some players come back a little later. We are really excited to come back to Old Trafford - I am sure we will be 100%.
The expectations are the same every time you start a new season with this club. The expectations are always really high. There is a different energy coming into this season, a few changes in the structure. Everything looks good, but ultimately what matters is what we do on the pitch.
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Silva: 'United know what we are capable of'
There have been fine margins. The reality is we have been a match for them. I'm excited to be at Old Trafford and to start there - the environment is going to be very good. They will want to start on the front foot - but they know what we are capable of.
[We have been] one of the only teams that is going to compete in the Premier League that has lost four senior players. We have to deal with it. We have a lot of work to do in the next two and a half weeks in the market because we need it. Now we have to rebuild again like we did last season.
At this stage of the season, I would like to have all the squad we need and have them prepared. It is always same story. It is what it is. We have been working hard. We're not 100% yet, but we are going to be ready for the game.
17:10
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'Manchester has been buzzing'
Hello from Old Trafford. First thing to note is that Manchester has been buzzing all afternoon with fans itching for this one to start. All four Man United summer signings - Matthjis de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee - are going to be introduced to the crowd this evening - even if Yoro is still on crutches after his pre-season injury.
I was at Erik ten Hag’s press conference yesterday and he was chipper and relaxed. Speaking to people at the club they’ve noticed a shift in that sense in Ten Hag this summer, he’s been more laid back, a tad more gentile, and he will hope that can rub off on his players.
Make no mistake that this is a huge game for him and United. This sets the tone of the new season and losing would only put his future into sharp focus immediately. Win tonight and the next eight days before Brighton away can be enjoyable. Lose and it’s a long time to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. I’m really excited to see this one play out.
17:04
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Ten Hag: 'We are NOT ready'
The team is not ready but the league starts. There are more managers who definitely have this problem but we have to make a start. We can't hide from it. We can't run away from it. We have to deal with it.
Issues are there but it's not about the players who are not available. It's also what I said always last season. It's about the players who are available and we have a good group, we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team so we will do.
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Key Updates
- SOFASCORE STATS: Man United 1-0 Fulham
- FULL-TIME: Man United 1-0 Fulham
- Man United 1-0 Fulham (Zirkzee 87')
- SECOND HALF: Man United 0-0 Fulham
- HALF-TIME: Man United 0-0 Fulham
- KICK-OFF: Man United 0-0 Fulham
- Fulham Team News - Smith-Rowe STARTS
- Man United Team News - Diallo STARTS
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