Manchester United's Premier League campaign got off to a miserable start as they were beaten on the opening day by newly promoted Hull City, with two first-half set-piece goals proving decisive at the MKM Stadium. Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy were the scorers for the Tigers, whose disciplined and spirited display was enough to stun a United side that struggled to impose itself on Humberside.
The defeat represents an unwelcome opening chapter for Michael Carrick, who takes charge on a permanent basis after guiding United into European qualification last term following his move up from a role under previous boss Ruben Amorim. Rather than building on that momentum, United found themselves undone by familiar frailties away from home.
Captain Bruno Fernandes did not shy away from addressing the issues that led to the loss, pointing to recurring problems that plagued the team throughout the previous campaign. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, the Portuguese midfielder was candid about the team's slow start and lack of urgency in the opening stages.
"Same mistakes as we did last season, every away game we give too much of the ball to them," Fernandes said. "In the first 20 minutes, the goalkeeper was the one with the most touches."
He went on to stress that United's approach needed to be more proactive, particularly in how they applied pressure and defended dead-ball situations. "We needed to press more, be more aggressive, and then again we need to work on set-plays and not concede these type of goals," he added.
Fernandes also acknowledged that Hull's tactical setup caught United off guard. According to the midfielder, the home side had used a back four throughout pre-season but switched to a five-man defense specifically for this fixture, anticipating that aerial threats from set pieces would be crucial against the Premier League giants.
"Against these types of teams, they are waiting for that moment. We knew before the game set-pieces would be a big part of their game," he explained. "They played all pre-season with a back four but had a five against us for some height, for these moments. The most frustrating thing is that we lost the game."
The atmosphere inside the MKM Stadium was another factor United had to contend with, as Hull's supporters created a vociferous backdrop throughout the ninety minutes. Fernandes admitted that while his side were prepared for the hostile environment, matching that energy consistently proved difficult.
"We knew [how motivated they would be]. If someone didn't know, it's very surprising," he said. "We know in the Premier League these type of grounds are very difficult to play in. You need to match everything in intensity, aggression and everything."
Despite the disappointing scoreline, Fernandes insisted that United had largely matched Hull's energy and commitment for large portions of the game, with the two set-piece goals ultimately proving to be the difference. "We had that apart from two set pieces. That cost us the game," he concluded.
The result leaves Carrick with plenty to address as he begins his first full season at the helm, particularly regarding defensive organization at set plays and game management in hostile away environments. With the Premier League season still in its infancy, United will be eager to put this setback behind them quickly and reset their ambitions for the campaign ahead.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (Football).