Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Old Trafford witnessed a comfortable Manchester United victory over Sabah on Thursday night, with Joshua Zirkzee getting his first minutes of the season.
The gulf in quality was evident from minute one as Manchester United thrashed Sabah 4-0 on matchday one of the Champions League.
Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Lisandro Martinez were all among the goals, but in many ways, it was the non-headline grabbers who had the best nights.
Joshua Zirkzee was one as he came off the bench to catch the eye with an exciting cameo that actually proved two points to Michael Carrick, one good and one bad.
Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United v Sabah FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Joshua Zirkzee proved two points to Manchester United against Sabah
It is almost a miracle that Zirkzee’s career at United is still alive, having seen multiple deals fall through in the final days of the summer transfer window.
His future went right to the wire, with United rejecting an Everton offer on deadline day at 9 pm, with the Dutchman needed for depth reasons.
Now this has already been proven to be the correct decision.
Zirkzee took control against Sabah, having a lot of impact in a short period of time, proving that he really does have a proper role at Old Trafford.
With Chido Obi and Ethan Wheatley on loan, United do lack number nine options, and letting Zirkzee leave without replacement would have been really poor planning.
While Sesko and Cunha can play the position in the league, Zirkzee is valuable in the Champions League, excelling against European competition, which proves his role to Carrick.
The performance proved that Zirkzee was right to be kept, but also that he is only really an option for Carrick in Europe.
Zirkzee is absolutely brilliant in situations like this, if only he could do it in the Premier League.
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Zirkzee performance shows where his strengths lie
In the Premier League, Zirkzee has never looked up to scratch, but in the slower-paced European ties, he comes alive as the game is toward his strengths.
Zirkzee demonstrated this against Sabah in just 26 minutes.
Completed three dribbles (most in the match)
Had two shots on target
22 touches of the ball
Made two passes into the final third
Won five of seven duels
The stats Zirkzee put in were impressive, but the best parts of his game are the things that aren’t quantifiable by stats.
Zirkzee will be looking at United’s list of Champions League opponents and licking his lips; it is where he could earn starts this season and maybe even buy himself a move next year if he shines against the likes of Como or Roma.
This would, however, require him to start scoring some goals.