Manchester United were not the only European giant left counting the cost of their missed chances on Saturday evening.
As Erik ten Hag’s side were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace – and the result could have been even more frustrating if not for those Andre Onana heroics which left Oliver Glasner stunned – all of Joshua Zirkzee’s excellent work went unrewarded.
Like he did during the 3-0 victory over Southampton seven days earlier, Zirkzee led the line excellently at Selhurst Park.
Dropping deep and linking the play in a manner reminiscent of Zirkzee’s idol Robin van Persie, the ethereal Dutchman was frequently at the heart of Manchester United’s most threatening moves.
Zirkzee set Alejandro Garnacho through early on.
But, after scoring three times in his previous two outings, there was to be no goal this time for the in-form Argentine. Zirkzee’s near-post flick nearly set up Garnacho for another chance before assisting Bruno Fernandes for a trivela shot which curved agonisingly wide of Dean Henderson’s post.
Fabio Capello lauds Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee
The good news, of course, is that Man United are creating chances pretty frequently this season. Better to miss opportunities than to not even earn them in the first place.
One-time Serie A midfielder Massimo Orlando claimed last week that Juventus missed a trick not signing Zirkzee in the summer.
The striker played under new Bianconeri coach Thiago Motta at Bologna, after all, winning the division’s Young Player of the Year award while firing the Rossoblu into the Champions League spots for the very first time.
And Fabio Capello, the ex-England boss, finds himself agreeing with Orlando’s point.
Especially after Juventus – like Man United at Selhurst Park – failed to turn their dominance into anything more meaningful at home to Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
“The Bianconeri are still too slow in circulating the ball and have little quality in the attacking midfield,” Capello tells Gazzetta dello Sport, feeling that his old employers lack a player capable of connecting the centre of the park to the final third with Dusan Vlahovic more of an old-school number nine in the Rasmus Hojlund mould.
“Vlahovic is not Zirkzee. He is a penalty area bomber and not an exceptional maneuverer.”
While still unbeaten in Serie A, Motta’s Juventus continue to be hamstrung by their failings in the attacking half. The Italian giants have not scored in each of their last three league games now, their most recent goal coming over 300 minutes ago.
Zirkzee is ‘a master’ at bringing the best out of his teammates
Of course, Zirkzee is far from a natural finisher.
Even during a fabulous 2023/24 season in which Zirkzee earned comparisons to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dimitar Berbatov, the former Bayern Munich youngster still only hit the target 11 times in league action.
But Zirkzee is the sort of footballer who brings that extra percentage out of those around him. The fine form of former Bologna team-mate Riccardo Orsolini last term sums up the impact Zirkzee can have on those around him.
“What is Vlahovic missing to become the ideal centre forward? He should take on less responsibility. “He should appear more carefree,” adds former Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, making the same point as Capello while also speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Can he do Zirkzee’s job in Bologna? No, they are different players.
“Vlahovic does not have the ability to link the game. He is more of a centre forward from the penalty area, very good at attacking the near post and volleying balls. If he has a flaw, it is in the game with his back to the goal. That is, in defending the ball and linking with his team-mates.
“Things in which Zirkzee is a master.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/2dPHxfV