Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has zeroed in on what went wrong for the club in their humiliating 2-0 loss at the hands of Hull City.
Outgunned
United were battered by the newly promoted side, who were the better side from start to finish in both sides’ season opener.
Hull’s physicality and intensity proved too much for United, who were only lucky not to fall behind early on because of a string of fine saves from Senne Lammens.
Hull’s sustained pressure eventually told in the 17th minute, with Ajayi capitalising on a clearance failure from a corner situation to give the hosts the lead.
Nobel Mendy made it 2-0 before the break with a headed finish, also from a set-piece, to pile further misery on Carrick and his players.
United offered very little in terms of a response and were rightly beaten. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Carrick acknowledged that the team was below par as he promised improvement. He also explained what went wrong for the Red Devils.
Carrick’s verdict
Carrick told TNT Sports, “We have a bit to improve on, it was never going to be perfect going behind makes it more difficult, against a promoted team at home, we can’t give them much and they had opportunities, we’re disappointed but it won’t knock us.”
“It’s for us to know and to improve during the week and keep getting stronger as a group and we have a lot to learn from it.”
He said about the conceded goals, “Two goals is frustrating anyway, they decide the game today and there’s things to improve on, one game doesn’t change the direction of everything. It doesn’t change the direction of the football club.”
Carrick was also asked about the imminent arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion. He answered, “I had all eyes on this today so any other player, until he’s ours, it’s not for me to comment on.”
He also spoke on BBC Match of the Day and remarked, “I thought we had moments and then two set plays caught us today. That decided the game in the end. We’ve conceded two goals today from set plays. We’ll look at it and improve it for sure. We keep working and moving forward.”
“It’s constant, it’s evolving all the time. Just because we haven’t got any points today, it won’t change what we do next week. We look forward and be excited with the season that is still ahead of us.”
“We’ve got to find the answers, we didn’t quite click and find the right solutions today.”
Carrick said of Rashford, who came on as a substitute for Patrick Dorgu in the second half, “I thought he came on and looked dangerous in moments. We probably relied on him a bit too much. Marcus playing today will be better for it with a game in his system.”
United are next in action next Sunday when they host another Premier League newcomer, Ipswich Town.
Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
