Playing at Old Trafford and in front of the Manchester United fans means everything to Joshua Zirkzee.
But don’t take it from us, take it from the Dutch forward, who provided a brilliantly emotive answer when asked how he would describe the buzz of a matchday at the Theatre of Dreams, in a newly released section of an interview with club media.
The 24-year-old, who joined us from Italian club Bologna before the start of last season, said there is nothing on the planet like our home stadium, and the feeling he gets from wearing the club’s famous red shirt in front of our adoring fans.
“I don’t think there’s anything like it,”Josh says, in response to our question about matchdays with the United fans at Old Trafford, during an interview you will be able to see the full version of soon.
“When they start singing 'United Road' before the game, and you’re just like… even if you’re playing a match, you sometimes you just look around and you’re like: ‘******* hell, I’m playing in Old Trafford.’
“It’s very special, you can just feel it. It’s a hard feeling to explain but it’s just this type of energy, aura that hangs around the stadium with the history, the great players that have been in this club.
“The only thing I can say is just that I’m really thankful to be in a position to walk out in front of these fans,”he continues.
“It’s just incredible, the stadium, the fans. There’s really nothing like this, I think, anywhere on this planet.”
Zirkzee had the privilege of scoring a late Stretford End winner on his United debut against Fulham in M16 last season and is now into his second term at the club, bringing up his 50th Premier League appearance away to Newcastle United earlier this month.
After recovering from a knock that kept him out of Michael Carrick’s first two games in charge, the Dutchman has since made four substitute appearances under the boss and will hope to help the Reds finish the season strongly over the coming weeks.
Our campaign resumes in two weeks' time with the mouthwatering visit of Yorkshire rivals Leeds United to Old Trafford, our first meeting since January’s 1-1 draw at Elland Road, in which Josh teed up Matheus Cunha’s equaliser.
Before that game, you can watch more of our Zirkzee interview here, to see him react to his team-mates' comments about him in the music edition of United magazine!