Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag makes 'kill' admission after nervy win over Fulham - 'Only criticism'

United also spurned several big chances throughout the miss that, if taken, could have made for a more straightforward evening.

Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount were denied by Bernd Leno, while Alejandro Garnacho missed a huge chance at the death to finish Fulham off.

And Ten Hag, speaking after the game, has admitted he wants his side to 'kill' more teams - insisting it was his 'only criticism' of their performance.

"Fulham is always a difficult game, they are very good on the ball, but I think we defended [well]," he said.

"Especially, we pressed very well. After, I think, 10-12 minutes we found our spell in the game and we kept them under pressure and they had a lot of trouble.

"They didn't come out of the pressure, which was good, and we created a lot of chances, I think.

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"And we should have scored earlier, that's the only criticism I have on the team. Kill. Kill in the box."

Ten Hag says the victory was a needed one, with the United boss also lavishing praise on Zirkzee following his goalscoring heroics.

"It's just [the] first game. But it's good to strengthen the belief, and confidence in the team," he added.

"But it's not only the win but also the performance that's okay.

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"And, I have seen many spaces where we can, and where we have to, improve. But that's normal, first game of the season.

"Yes [Zirkzee gets involved in build-up] but scoring, for a striker, is important.

"He should be there, where he was, to finish, to kill. But yeah, he has more qualities, so he has to get the right balance.

"We have to work with him, I think that's one of the things I spoke with him about, that he has to be arriving in the box to get his finishes, but, of course, we want him to link up.

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"Therefore, also, for that attribute, we bought him.

"And he has great qualities to make that link-up play and we have some great midfielders around him who can make combinations so we can take hold of the game."

Fulham boss Marco Silva, meanwhile, has lamented the 'same story' after his side crashed to defeat.

“It was the same story again," he said.

"I believe that we deserved more from the game in terms of the result, definitely.

"Looking overall at the game, I think we deserved more.”