Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, has called for improvement after the team began their season with a 2-0 defeat against Hull. The loss marks the fourth time in the past seven years that United have lost their opening game.
Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored for Hull, capitalising on what was described as poor defending from set-pieces by United. Despite the disappointing start, Carrick maintained a professional exterior, stating he would not overreact to the result.
Carrick acknowledged the team's hurt, saying, "Inside we’re hurting and we need to get better." However, he emphasised that the result would not change the team's overall direction. Bruno Fernandes noted similar mistakes to last season, particularly giving away too much possession and issues with set-plays.
Hull's head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, revealed his staff had identified a weakness in United's set-piece defending. Hull, who finished sixth in the Championship last season and were tipped for relegation, celebrated the victory, with Jakirovic expressing happiness for everyone at the club.