LONDON — At halftime, it seemed improbable that either Crystal Palace or Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim or striker Joshua Zirkzee would leave Selhurst Park with their reputations intact.
After conceding a goal from a retaken Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty—awarded after he inadvertently touched the ball twice on the first attempt—Amorim faced the prospect of a second major defeat within a week, following the embarrassing 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton. Meanwhile, Zirkzee had a quiet opening 45 minutes with no significant touches, failing to challenge Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
However, both made the journey back to Manchester with their standing not just preserved but improved.
Amorim’s tactical adjustment at halftime—positioning Bryan Mbeumo in a more central role—enabled United to establish a foothold in a match that had been largely controlled by Palace. According to Amorim, his players exhibited greater “intensity” after the break.
This shift allowed Zirkzee to score the equalizer—his first Premier League goal in 364 days—by finishing powerfully from a difficult angle, shortly followed by Mason Mount scoring to make it 2-1.
While halftime seemed to signal the end for Amorim and Zirkzee, they stood proudly before the jubilant 3,000 traveling fans after the match, reveling in a hard-fought victory.
“I told the players we needed to be more alive, and you could sense that,” Amarim remarked afterward. “With that increased alertness, you find yourself in better positions and closer to the ball. Everyone stepped up.”
“But we also need to acknowledge that the opponent was fatigued in the second half. When we raised our tempo and the opponent tired, it led to a goal that turned the game in our favor.”
United’s first away win at Selhurst Park since 2020 provides a welcome reprieve for Amorim amidst mounting criticism regarding his role, particularly after the loss to Everton.
Meanwhile, discussions about Zirkzee’s future intensify. The Netherlands international’s limited playtime this season has sparked speculation about a possible January exit from Old Trafford as he seeks a spot in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Having made his first league start of the season against Everton, Zirkzee’s place against Palace was in jeopardy, particularly if Matheus Cunha had been fit. There was a case for substituting him at halftime due to his ineffectiveness against Palace’s defensive trio of Marc Guéhi, Chris Richards, and Maxence Lacroix. His continued presence may have been due to a lack of substitutions options from injuries to Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
Regardless, Zirkzee capitalized on his opportunity, controlling a clever free kick from Bruno Fernandes early in the second half and firing home at the far post from a tight angle, showcasing his timely intervention for both Amorim and himself.
This goal marked Zirkzee’s first league score since December 2024 and ended United’s scoring drought against Palace since February 2023. The former Bayern Munich and Bologna forward appeared revitalized after the break.
“It was not just about the goal; he made better runs behind the defenders,” Amorim commented on Zirkzee’s second-half showing. “In the first half, he struggled in duels, but he won several in the second half. His improved performance was crucial for us; it wasn’t just the goal that shifted the momentum.”
Amorim faced scrutiny for his game management against Everton, but his adjustments against Palace proved effective. He repositioned Mbeumo centrally, close to Zirkzee, resulting in a more cohesive United display. Although both goals arose from set pieces, United looked the superior side after halftime.
“We sensed a need for change in our play,” Amorim said. “We aimed to tweak our approach slightly, and that worked. The intensity and connection between players, particularly with Josh’s contributions, noticeably improved our performance.”
Similarly, Oliver Glasner also attributed the second-half turnaround to fatigue. Palace has yet to win a match after a Thursday night UEFA Conference League game, while United enjoyed five days of preparation compared to Palace’s 48 hours following their defeat to Strasbourg.
Glasner expressed his annoyance at conceding twice from set pieces and criticized the lack of squad depth that remains unaddressed since the summer transfer window.
In a candid post-match press conference, Glasner stated, “Conceding two goals from set pieces is incredibly frustrating. We played a strong first half and deserved the lead, but we struggled to create open-play chances. Our energy waned, particularly when we made it harder for ourselves by conceding those two goals.”
With fatigue evident in his squad and now on their 22nd game of the season compared to United’s 14th, Glasner noted that he placed no blame on his players, who are giving their all on the pitch.
Both managers will be advocating for reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window, recognizing that timely acquisitions could significantly impact a competitive league landscape.
Amorim often emphasizes the rapid changes in the Premier League, and after this match, it was Glasner who appeared the more frustrated during his media interactions. What seemed dire for Amorim and Zirkzee at halftime became a moment of celebration as they secured only United’s second away league win since March, buying both individuals some much-needed time and relief.