Manchester United fans demand Zirkzee stay after Leeds penalty win

Manchester United supporters have launched a social media campaign to prevent the sale of Joshua Zirkzee following a 5-4 penalty shootout victory against Leeds United. The Dutch forward opened the scoring in the 16th minute by volleying home a cross from Bryan Mbeumo. His performance prompted fans to demand that club officials keep the striker to complete the squad.

The pre-season match at Croke Park ended in a dramatic shootout after the teams could not be separated in normal time. Brenden Aaronson equalised for Leeds following a defensive error from United. Both Bruno Fernandes and Mbeumo struck the woodwork before the final whistle. Fernandes also missed a penalty during the shootout.

Substitute goalkeeper Dermot Mee made a crucial save to help United secure the win. Noussair Mazraoui eventually scored the sudden-death winner to end the contest. While the team lifted a trophy, many fans expressed frustration on social media regarding the team's inability to control the game. Some supporters criticised the squad for failing to dominate matches and instead relying on comebacks.

Tactical debates have emerged among the fanbase regarding Michael Carrick's setup. Some supporters are calling for a shift to an aggressive 4-3-3 formation to better utilise the attacking abilities of Mbeumo and Zirkzee. These discussions come with only one warm-up game remaining before the start of the new season.

Despite the criticism, individual performances from younger players received praise. Harry Amass was noted for his quality at fullback, while new signing Andrey Santos was commended for his work rate in midfield. For some fans, the victory demonstrated a growing mentality under Carrick's management.