Manchester United’s fans had endured a disappointing day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City’s stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. He had “an important announcement” for them. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled. The roar from the home fans matched that for their side’s two first-half goals that sealed a first ever top-flight win over United – and first in league meetings since a Second Division encounter in 1974.
“You should have come in a taxi,” they sang. Football supporters can be a cruel breed. As they were kicking their heels waiting for a train to take them back over the Pennines, the portion of the 2,400-strong visiting contingent that had chosen that mode of transport would have struggled to find any redeeming features.
“They didn’t create much, which was the biggest worry,” legendary former United striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. “When you play a promoted team, it’s always difficult. First game of the season away from home, United just didn’t seem ready for it.”
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer felt it was a fitness issue. “I haven’t seen Manchester United in pre-season. I saw them in this game and they didn’t look fit, they didn’t look ready to play 90 minutes of intense, high-pressure, high-energy football,” he added on BBC Radio Five Live.
Well, I have seen Manchester United in pre-season; all six games of it. I wouldn’t say it was a fitness issue. Until last weekend’s defeat by AC Milan in Poland, no-one was questioning the fitness of Carrick’s squad and six of his starting line-up returned to training on 9 July.
It is an opinion though – and everyone is entitled to them; just as they are entitled to say Carrick’s side were toothless in attack, before and after Marcus Rashford’s half-time introduction for his first United appearance since December 2024.
They are also entitled to say United don’t seem to be able to defend solidly against opponents who play with wing-backs, as AC Milan did last week and Hull on Saturday.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes felt it was a pressing issue as he told TNT: “Same mistakes as we did last season in every away game.”
“We give too much of the ball to them. In the first 20 minutes the goalkeeper had more touches on the ball, too much time.”
“We need to press a little bit more, be more aggressive, and set-plays – we need to work on it, to be more aggressive and try not to concede these types of goals.”
Set-pieces were a particular area Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic said he had identified to attack in the build-up to the game.
Hull stunned Man Utd in dream Premier League return
Ajayi is rock at the back as Hull stunned Man Utd – player ratings
The merits or otherwise of these opinions will now be dissected and analysed – and Carrick knows it.
The public face Carrick presents should not be taken to mean the defeat at Hull – who were beating their illustrious opponents in the Premier League for the first time, and inflicting Manchester United’s first ever opening-game defeat to a newly promoted side – does not sting. It does.
“I’m talking to you quite calm,” he explained in his post-match press conference. "But I’m not exactly calm inside and enjoying the day, you know?"
“It’s the 'public' Carrick, the level-headed personality which is so different to the volatility of former United boss Ruben Amorim, who brought headlines, but also extreme emotions to the Old Trafford dug-out.”
However, the public face Carrick presents should not be taken to mean the defeat at Hull – who were beating their illustrious opponents in the Premier League for the first time, and inflicting Manchester United’s first ever opening-game defeat to a newly promoted side – does not sting. It doesn’t make me do things differently.
Manchester United entertain another newly promoted opponent, Ipswich, next at Old Trafford on 30 August.
Carrick said on Thursday it was “ridiculous” to think his side had been given a “favourable” start.
What happened at Hull proved it.
At least the £70m transfer of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has already been agreed, so it can’t be claimed it is a 2022-style reaction to a bad start to the campaign.
“I know a lot goes on outside our football club,"
"I understand and I understand the responsibility I’ve got."
"I get it. We’ve lost today and there’s questions to be asked. But it doesn’t mean everything’s wrong. It doesn’t make me do things differently."
"I’m talking to you quite calm," he explained in his post-match press conference. "But I’m not exactly calm inside and enjoying the day, you know?"
"It's 100% not that, trust me, it's not that. Inside we’re hurting but it doesn’t mean we all have to shout and scream and come out and create some chaos. The calmness doesn’t mean there’s no emotion in it, for sure."
Manchester United entertain another newly promoted opponent, Ipswich, next at Old Trafford on 30 August.
Follow Manchester United on BBC Sounds
Pre-match, post-match and topical United content
Subscribe and listen for everything you love about the Red Devils
Latest Manchester United news, analysis and fan views
Ask about Man Utd – what do you want to know?”
Watch Related Video
Source: BBC Football
