After Joshua Zirkzee marked his Manchester United debut with a late winner last time out, Fulham coach Marco Silva could help but hang his head in disappointment.
Erik ten Hag’s side, he said, are ‘very strong’ when the game becomes stretched.
Given their considerable strength on the counter-attack – something Pep Guardiola also highlighted after the Community Shield – the opposition are often most at risk when they are in possession rather than without it.
With Fulham pushing for a late winner at Old Trafford and losing the ball up high, Man United broke with trademark precision.
Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho cut through the gaps as Joshua Zirkzee flicked the ball effortlessly into the far corner, becoming the third Dutchman to score on his Red Devils debut against Fulham in the process after Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, The Seagulls’ baby-faced boss Fabian Hurzeler is keen to avoid a repeat scenario.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler wary of Manchester United threat
“When we are in possession, (we have to make sure that) we have a good position, a good distance to each other in case we lose the ball (to) stop their transition moments,” Hurzeler says at his pre-match press conference, via Brighton’s YouTube channel.
“This is going to be key.”
Despite the absence of Rasmus Hojlund – ruled out with a hamstring injury – Ten Hag is in the rarified position of boasting considerable attacking options ahead of Man United’s first away game of the campaign.
After scoring off the bench against Man City at Wembley, the electrifying Garnacho made a huge impression in another cameo appearance against Fulham; his fizzing cross converted by Zirkzee at the near post.
Ten Hag also has the option of handing the £36 million former Bologna striker his first start, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount having shared ‘false nine’ duties so far this term.
“There is a difference when Zirkzee is playing. He is a target player,” adds Hurzeler, the 31-year-old former St Pauli boss who arrived to take the place of now-Marseille chief Roberto de Zerbi.
“When Mount and Bruno Fernandes are playing as a striker, they play more as false nines.
So of course there are differences and we have to prepare for both. It is our job to be the best prepared team we can be.
“The strength I think for this team is they have individual quality on the pitch, where you can never lose your attention of the game. They can decide a game in one situation, even if they are not really in the game.
“They have quality like with Fernandes, with (Marcus) Rashford, (Amad) Diallo, Garnacho, Mount…
“If there is one situation, they can kill the game. (My team) have to pay attention 90 minutes. You have to be focused all the time, particularly in transition moments.”
Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee pushing to start
Brighton cruised past Everton during Hurzeler’s first official game in charge last week.
Aided by a red card for former Manchester United captain Ashley Young, the South Coast outfit hit three unanswered goals past Sean Dyche’s side with Kaoru Mitoma and summer signing Yankuba Minteh wreaking havoc on the flanks.
Hurzeler confirms that Minteh will be available after suffering a concussion which forced him off just before half-time.
Diogo Dalot and the excellent Noussair Mazraoui – so impressive on his United bow versus Fulham – could be in for a tricky evening then at The Amex.
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