Joshua Zirkzee's Manchester United career isn't exactly going to plan at the moment.

The Dutch forward has found it difficult to deliver both performances and goals since his arrival in the summer. His season arguably hit rock bottom on Sunday when the Red Devils suffered a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Bournemouth - a result which ensured United would be in the bottom half of the Premier League table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1989.

Zirkzee, who started up front, barely made an impact. He was substituted just nine minutes into the second half after managing a mere 19 touches, only one of which was a shot, and completing just six of the 11 passes he attempted.

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Unsurprisingly, he faced a barrage of criticism from both fans and media following the game. However, if his time at Bayern Munich offers any insight, such setbacks are unlikely to shake Zirkzee's confidence. On the contrary, they may even fuel his determination to bounce back.

He joined Bayern as a teenager in 2017 and earned a spot in the first-team squad two years later. Competing for opportunities against stars like Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry meant limited game-time, but Zirkzee made an impression when given the chance, scoring four goals in just three Bundesliga starts during his debut season.

Expectations were high that he would soon secure a regular spot in the line-up, but doubts about his effort and attitude quickly surfaced. He was criticised by German outlet Bild for appearing "hapless and unmotivated" during training sessions, and while the remarks were harsh, Zirkzee pushed back against them with confidence.

In an interview with De Telegraaf, he dismissed the claims, asserting that such negativity only motivates him to improve. "I thought it [Bild's report] was a bit too much, unnecessary," Zirkzee said.

"Everyone has a training in which they score less goals. Do I have to keep walking around with a happy face? On the one hand it motivates me even more. On the other hand I think: let it go. As long as trainers and fellow players believe in me. That is the most important thing, I will continue to work for that."

United supporters will be eager to see a comparable reaction from Zirkzee following his underwhelming performance over the weekend. The 23-year-old, signed for £36.5 million, has managed four goals across 24 appearances in all competitions this season.

Since scoring on the opening day, he has found the net just twice in the league, despite playing in all 17 of United’s matches so far, and both goals came in the same game (vs Everton). Time will tell whether he'll be able to turn his Old Trafford career around, but criticism, it seems, won't be a problem for the youngster.