Ruben Amorim and Bruno Fernandes expressed their frustration with Joshua Zirkzee during Manchester United’s Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen, where Zirkzee lost possession 11 times in just 33 minutes.

The match was uneventful, with the home side employing a five-at-the-back setup that stifled United’s possession game. While Marcus Rashford also struggled to retain the ball, Zirkzee’s performance drew the most criticism. Fernandes reportedly showed visible frustration at Zirkzee’s repeated turnovers, as highlighted by The Athletic’s Carl Anka, who noted, “29 touches so far for the Dutchman. Lost possession 11 times. #MUFC have been ponderous in possession so far.”

The Mirror’s David McDonnell observed Amorim’s dismay at Zirkzee’s inability to maintain possession, often under minimal pressure. After starting brightly with a debut goal against Fulham, Zirkzee has struggled to build on that initial success.

In his first match against Ipswich Town, Amorim singled out Zirkzee for his decision-making, stating, “You don’t need to coach them at this level… You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front.” He emphasized the importance of understanding game situations, particularly when United had two strikers positioned to capitalize on crosses.

Amorim acknowledged that while the system (3-4-3) is not the primary concern, the team’s understanding of the game needs significant improvement. “We are doing some things that were not at the right moment, so that is something we have to address,” he stated, emphasizing the need for better decision-making on the pitch.