Michael Carrick admitted there are "definitely issues" after Manchester United lost 2-0 to newly-promoted Hull City in their Premier League opener at the MKM Stadium. Despite the defeat, the United boss insisted his team did "a lot of good things" in the match.
Two first-half goals sink United
United were heavy favourites to beat Hull in their first Premier League game of 2026/27, but the home side took the lead in the 17th minute through Semi Ajayi. Nobel Mendy extended the advantage before half-time, scoring a header from close range after a free-kick. United failed to mount a response in the second half despite Carrick making several substitutions.
"You know, we came here to win as we do in any game," a disappointed Carrick said after the game. "So to not take anything away is hugely disappointing. It's not more than that. It's not less than that."
Carrick defends set-piece record
Carrick was asked about his team's defending at set-pieces, with both Hull goals coming from dead-ball situations. "I think we've been pretty good [at defending set-pieces] over a period of time," he said. "Today they've obviously scored two in different ways, you know, so I guess why that's highlighted, I understand that. But it happens. Sometimes it happens in football, but we don't accept it, but it happens and we've got to understand why."
Hull played five at the back against United, and their manager, Sergej Jakirović, said he chose that system to nullify Carrick's approach. When asked whether his system struggles against teams using a back five, Carrick responded: "We haven't lost many games in six, seven months. So again, I get it, we've lost today, and I understand there are questions to be asked, but it doesn't mean everything's wrong because we've lost a game."
"It's one game" - Carrick
Carrick dismissed suggestions that the defeat exposed deeper problems. "We've done a lot of good things and we did some good things today, but it gets lost, and I understand it'll get lost, but it doesn't get lost from our point of view. So yeah, there's definitely issues playing against different systems, you know."
"So we've got to find the answers for that, but it's just because we lost one game doesn't mean that everything needs to be dissected and it's wrong from our point of view. I understand from others, it happens, and that's how it is."
When asked why United were so passive against Hull, Carrick said: "That doesn't mean you're passive just because you get beat. It's just, you know, the result's the result. So we accept it, you know? We got beat, we're hurting."
"It's not a nice feeling at all. It doesn't mean it's going to change the direction of how we're going as a team or as a football club, you know? It's one game and results can happen in football. We all understand that."
"It's not nice when they do, but it does happen. We can be better, we will be better. There's things we can be much better at. There's things that were actually alright that get lost in the game because you get beat. I understand that as well."
