Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to make two more signings before the transfer deadline, saying the defence is 'not good enough' after a shock 2-0 opening-day defeat to Hull City.
Defensive concerns exposed
The Red Devils suffered a disappointing loss to newly-promoted Hull on Saturday. United have had a subdued summer transfer window, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos the club's only two major signings, though Carlos Baleba is set to join in a £70m deal from Brighton.
A midfield rebuild was necessary following Casemiro's departure and Manuel Ugarte's long-term injury, but Neville believes defensive reinforcements are also needed. He wants his former club to sign a new centre-back and at least one new full-back before the window closes on September 3.
Neville's assessment
Assessing the defeat on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville said: 'Hull did everything they had to in terms of competing, being aggressive, organised and hard to break down.'
'Manchester United fell short in those areas in the early stages of the game and they have struggled at times against teams that play deeper. It's a massive wake-up call. Hull didn't just match Man United physically but were better than them in that area and that will be the big disappointment for Michael Carrick.'
'Too many players were well below par and he will want that to just be a blip, you can't let it stretch into next weekend as well, they have to be at it.'
Neville added: 'What it did highlight is that Man United defence isn't good enough. To be fair the club probably know that, they rebuilt the forward line last summer and rebuilt the midfield this summer with a few signings.'
'I don't know if they've got the money or not but they do need a centre-back, and they do need full-backs. They just do. There's no other way of putting it really. That was highlighted yesterday.'
Carrick's response
Manchester United will be desperate for a better performance next weekend when Ipswich Town visit Old Trafford. Speaking after the loss to Hull, Carrick said: 'It's one game. It's the first game of the season so it's disappointing enough and it hurts, of course it does.'
'But it's one game, it doesn't change the whole course of the direction the team or the football club is going in. We'll stay calm, stay in the bubble and focus on next week.'
'One hundred per cent [we're looking ahead]. That's what I mean: [we need to] understand the bigger picture. It doesn't make today any easier, but when you pull yourself away from it and what we're trying to achieve, where we want to be, where we've come from, what's on this week, what's on the weeks after and building up to the first international break, the run of games, the chapter, what it looks like, finishing the transfer window strong, all them things come into play.'
'Just right now, standing here looking at this pitch, it's a disappointing feeling.'
