Hull City Stuns Manchester United as Carrick's Era Hits a Snag

The optimism did not just fade at the MKM Stadium. It was ripped up.

On the opening day of Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge, Manchester United were bullied, beaten and outthought by newly-promoted Hull City, who claimed a fully deserved 2-0 win and their first victory over United in more than 50 years.

Two set-piece goals told the story on the scoreboard. The manner of the defeat told a much deeper one.

Promotion fire, Premier League reality

Hull arrived back in the Premier League tipped by many to go straight back down. You would not have known it from the first whistle.

Sergej Jakirovic sent his side out with a clear plan: a back five that relished contact, wing-backs Lewie Coyle and Ryan Giles flying forward, and Oli McBurnie as the focal point to batter United’s back line. It worked.

By half-time, Hull had scored both their goals and won almost two thirds of their duels and headers. United, by contrast, lost 63 per cent of their challenges and never once looked comfortable dealing with the home side’s intensity.

This was not about subtle tactical tweaks. It was about fight. Hull had it. United did not.

Carrick keeps calm as cracks appear

The defeat cut straight through the pre-season positivity around Old Trafford.

Carrick had returned in January and quietly put together the best points record in the division over that spell. He had overseen the arrivals of Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans, with Carlos Baleba expected to follow. The mood was that United were building something.

Hull tore that mood to shreds in 90 minutes.

Even so, Carrick resisted the urge to go public with any anger. He chose to cling to the fragments of encouragement he had seen.

“We did some good things today and it will get lost,” he said after the game. “We have to find answers but because we lose one game, it doesn’t mean everything needs dissecting.”

To TNT Sport he added: “Some of it was OK, there’s bits to improve on. It was never going to be perfect, but going behind and giving ourselves a lot to do makes it more difficult.”

“It was a typical one of those games, with a newly-promoted team at home. You can’t give them much, they’ve got a lot to hold on to.”

“After that, we had moments and opportunities but we didn’t have the spark to put the chances away or create any more. We’re bitterly disappointed with the result, but we won’t let it knock us.”

The problem for Carrick is that supporters have heard versions of this before.

Bruno’s warning: “Same mistakes as last season”

If the manager was measured, his captain was not.

Bruno Fernandes cut through the excuses and went straight to the heart of what he felt had gone wrong – not just on the day, but over a longer stretch.

“It was the same mistakes we made last season, every away game we give too much of the ball to the opponent,” he told TNT Sport.

“In the first 20 minutes, their goalkeeper was the one with the most touches.”

“We needed to press more, be more aggressive, and then again we need to work on set-plays and not concede these type of goals.”

“Against these types of teams, they are waiting for that moment. We knew before the game set-pieces would be a big part of their game.”

His words stung because they sounded familiar. The lack of aggression. The passive pressing. The soft underbelly at set-plays. Old flaws, new season.

“About fight and spirit” – and United’s lack of it

Sky Sports’ Ron Walker summed it up bluntly.

“Hull nailed their set-up with a back five too physical for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and wing-backs in Lewie Coyle and Ryan Giles who served target man Oli McBurnie well.”

“But this was about fight and spirit over anything on Sergej Jakirovic’s tactics board. Winning almost two thirds of both their duels and headers before the break was just reward for the intensity, energy and belief they brought to the game – and United did not match it.”

“It was inevitable that the Tigers would be fired up after riding the wave of promotion, but it felt as though Michael Carrick’s side hadn’t realised. They failed to do the basics right and were punished.”

“A video of McBurnie dribbling around a static Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans will rightly do the rounds on social media tonight.”

“People may point to a lack of quality in the Man Utd side but without the hunger and desire to do those basics, it would have made little difference.”

That clip of McBurnie – a centre-forward rolling through two high-profile midfield signings with ease – will become the symbol of this defeat. Not just outplayed. Outworked.

Fans already asking the hard questions

One game into the season, the debate has started.

“Carrick under pressure straight away. Eddie Howe anyone?” wrote Jay. The sentiment was echoed by Marek: “The job is too big for Carrick, he did a great job at the end of last season but Utd need a proven winner in charge.”

Others focused on the squad’s shortcomings. “It was quite obvious we need a strong centre back, left back and striker to support when Sesko is not available,” said JB75. “Cunha was playing so deep at times going into a midfield that was 5 deep with Hull. And the midfield just didn’t seem to have the legs, not a convincing start.”

Then came the most damning verdict from Big Dave: “Same old United, no pace, lack of movement, and a total lack of effort, shocking performance, seems like nothing has changed at United.”

Those are not the reactions of a fanbase prepared to treat this as a one-off bad day.

A jolt, not a blip

Carrick insists this defeat will not knock his players. It may have already jolted everything around them.

Hull, missing as many as eight first-team players, were supposed to be the kind of opponent a side with top-four ambitions swats aside on opening day. Instead, they exposed United’s frailties in brutal, uncomplicated fashion.

The season is only one game old. There is time to correct, to recruit, to reset. But the questions are here already.

Is this the start of a new United under Carrick, or just another chapter in the same old story?