Joshua Zirkzee’s early goal had put Manchester United in a strong position against Real Sociedad, but Ruben Amorim’s side failed to hold on for a crucial victory in San Sebastian.
The Dutch striker gave United an early advantage in their Europa League round of 16 clash, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to level the score from the penalty spot. The equalizer came after a VAR review penalized Bruno Fernandes for handball, shifting momentum in favor of the Spanish side.
Real Sociedad pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages, with substitute Orri Oskarsson coming close twice. His first effort was narrowly off target under pressure from Leny Yoro, while his second attempt forced a crucial stoppage-time save from Andre Onana.
United struggled in the final minutes, with head coach Ruben Amorim citing fatigue as a key factor. However, Zirkzee had his own perspective on the team’s late struggles.
Zirkzee Expresses Frustration
Reflecting on the match, the former Bologna forward pointed to United’s inability to maintain composure after conceding.
“If you look at how the stadium reacted to the penalty and how they pressed after the goal, you could tell they needed it,” Zirkzee said. “I think we should have stayed calm and continued playing our game. We lost control a little after that.”
He continued, “We had more to gain from this match. The penalty was unfortunate—I’m still not sure exactly what happened there. But it just proves that we need to be more ruthless with our chances. We created enough opportunities. A draw away isn’t bad, but now they have to come to Old Trafford.”
Zirkzee also suggested that United could have come away with more from the game. “If you analyze the chances we created, we should have scored another. We were up against a strong team, but we should have done better.”
Amorim Acknowledges Turning Point
For Amorim, the penalty incident played a pivotal role in the outcome. “We played well up until the penalty decision,” he admitted. “That moment shifted the momentum, and we struggled to recover.”
Despite the disappointing result, the head coach singled out Zirkzee for praise. The Dutchman had been under scrutiny after missing a crucial penalty in United’s FA Cup exit against Fulham, but he responded with a strong performance in Spain.
“He deserved this goal because he’s been working really hard,” Amorim said. “He’s improving in different aspects of his game, and tonight he was crucial for us.”
Manchester United will now turn their focus to the second leg at Old Trafford on March 13. Before that, however, they face a major Premier League showdown against Arsenal, which could have a significant impact on their domestic campaign
