Man Utd flop dubbed ‘champion in losing the ball’ as Premier League’s ‘worst ever manager’ fires scathing warning

MANCHESTER UNITED flop Joshua Zirkzee has been dubbed a "champion of losing the ball" after his performance against Tottenham.

Dutchman Frank de Boer, who Jose Mourinho once labelled "the Prem's worst ever manager" fired a scathing attack on new boy Zirkzee.

3 Joshua Zirkzee was on the receiving end of fierce criticism for his Tottenham showing

3 Frank de Boer has laid into 'absolutely shocking' Zirkzee

Zirkzee's poor United displays have swiftly come under-fire, despite netting a late winner from the bench on his debut against Fulham.

He frequently gave up possession in United's 3-0 hammering by Spurs, even kicking the ball out of play on two occasions without any pressure.

Zirkzee was removed at half-time after Bruno Fernandes' red card - which has since been overturned - saw Casemiro enter the fray.

And De Boer was less than impressed with the 23-year-old’s display against Ange Postecoglou’s men.

De Boer told Viaplay: "Look at Joshua Zirkzee. He was having a nightmare. He was absolutely shocking.

"How many times does he make the wrong choices on the pitch?

"Okay, he did have one shot at goal and the keeper saved it. But all in all he was champion in losing the ball.

"During the warm-up before the game, I was watching him and he was shooting on goal but he was blasting it anywhere but on target.

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"Honestly, he did not hit the target once in the warm-up. That was terrible.

"When you are a good striker, you don’t have to blast every ball, you have to make sure your shots are in the corner.

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"During the game Marcus Rashford tried to shoot like that. Zirkzee never did."

The former Bologna striker joined United for 36.5m this summer, but looks way off the pace for Prem football.

Erik ten Hag's compatriot De Boer was also heavily critical of the United boss after the game.

He added: "United look like a team that are wobbling everywhere.

"They have been totally outclassed, and I am talking about being outclassed tactically, in quality, in effort and energy. Where weren’t they outclassed?"

Mourinho once lambasted De Boer's own managerial credentials in 2018, after his criticism of Rashford during the Special One's time at United.

Look at Joshua Zirkzee. He was having a nightmare. He was absolutely shocking. Frank de Boer

Hitting back at De Boer, Mourinho said: "I read something, some quote from the worst manager in the history of the Premier League, Frank De Boer.

"If Rashford was coached by Frank he would lose because he lost every game."

De Boer was sacked by Crystal Palace after just five games and 77 days in charge.

A stint that encompassed four league games, all of which ended in defeat.

He went on to manage Atalanta from 2018-20 and spent a year with the Netherlands before being sacked after Euro 2021.

De Boer was also let go by Abu Dhabi side Al Jazira in December 2023 - after six months in charge.

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