Michael Carrick expressed his frustration with Manchester United's opening-day loss against newly-promoted Hull City but insisted that his side produced "a lot of good things". In a clear message to their critics, Carrick added that it is "not the time" to say the Red Devils need to make huge changes to how they defend set-pieces after conceding two at the MKM Stadium.
Defeat at the MKM Stadium
United were overwhelming favourites to overcome Hull in their opening Premier League fixture of 2026/27, but the hosts struck first in the 17th minute through Semi Ajayi. Nobel Mendy doubled the lead before the interval, nodding home from close range following a free-kick, and United failed to trouble Hull in the second period despite Carrick introducing multiple 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.
"It's just one game that we're disappointed we haven't won. So got to soak it up and come back stronger. It's not a time to dissect it as such. I think we've been pretty good [at defending set-pieces] over a period of time.
"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."
Back-five questions
Hull deployed five at the back against United on Saturday and their manager, Sergej Jakirovic, revealed he opted for that formation to counter Carrick's tactics.
When it was suggested to Carrick that his system might encounter difficulties against teams deploying a back five, he replied: "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.
"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."
Subdued display explained
When questioned why United appeared so subdued against Hull, he responded: "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."
