Man Utd slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Hull in their first game of the new Premier League season.
Michael Carrick suffered defeat vs Hull.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick showed bite for the first time since he was permanently appointed by Manchester United when he was asked by broadcaster Viaplay why his team lacked "passion" against Hull.
"Oh come on, that's ridiculous! You played football. You understand. That’s a ridiculous thing to say. Just because you get beat doesn’t mean you don’t care about it," he blasted.
United did not lack effort against Hull, but they lacked quality and Carrick got his tactical approach wrong, which explains why newly-promoted Hull claimed their first-ever Premier League win against the Reds.
Both of Hull's goals came from set-pieces, so they were avoidable, and it was concerning to hear Luke Shaw suggest United should have prepared better for the game. Bruno Fernandes also raised concerns when he said: "Same mistakes as we did last season, every away game."
United struggled to break down Hull's low block, with Sergej Jakirovic setting his side up in a system that was hard to break down, well-organised, physical and a threat from set-pieces.
Jakirovic won the tactical battle against Carrick after spotting how United had struggled against teams that play five at the back. “In transitions, we try to switch the side, because our wing-backs are completely alone, then get numbers in the box," he said of their tactical approach.
“Because United were coming very high with Luke Shaw. Also, they’re trying to overload the midfield. That was our main task, to close these gaps between the lines."
Hull's assistant manager, Dean Holden, added: "Serg had it in the back of his mind for three or four weeks that he was thinking of playing a back five. He didn't want to give anything away in pre-season, so we played a back four.
"The easiest thing to do in preparation was using some of the Milan clips and Leeds the week before played a back three too, so that helped us with players where the systems looked similar."
Carrick has lost five games, including pre-season friendlies, as United boss and four of those defeats came against teams that play with a back five. There was the 2-1 defeat vs Leeds in April, a 1-0 defeat vs Wrexham, a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan, and a 2-0 defeat against Hull.
Newcastle are responsible for the other defeat and although they did not play with a back five at St. James' Park in March, they defended deep. United could not break down their low block and paid the price.
When it was put to Carrick that his system may struggle against teams who play a back five, he responded: "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."
However, Carrick has come unstuck against teams who play with a back five enough times to suggest it's not a coincidence, and there is a pattern emerging that indicates it's something the coaching staff must address.
United struggled to get to grips with Hull's wing-backs, who found space down the flanks before floating crosses into the box for the inexperienced Oli McBurnie. The same was seen in the final pre-season friendly against AC Milan, with Samuel Chukwueze causing havoc from the wing-back position.
There were moments when Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui were pulled out and the rest of the backline were left vulnerable, and if Hull can expose that weakness, then teams with more quality certainly will.
The good news is that United welcome Ipswich to Old Trafford for their second game of the season. Ipswich play with a back four, and United should manage to impose themselves more than they did over the weekend.
There's no denying that United's defeat to Hull was shocking. There was huge optimism heading into the new campaign, and United were the heavy favourites to start with a win, but Ipswich is an opportunity to bounce back.
Carrick enjoyed some easy wins after his appointment in January, like switching to 4-3-3 and reintegrating Kobbie Mainoo, and there are a few more easy wins for him to take advantage of with his team selection this weekend.
Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko should all be given starts to ensure that an opening-day blip does not turn into something more concerning. That is how United will bounce back in the short term, but the tactical concern about playing against back fives will not go away.