I attended the Saturday match and it became evident early on that Manchester United were out of their depth against Hull City. Critics will undoubtedly pounce on Michael Carrick’s side this week, especially ahead of their home fixture with Ipswich on Sunday, accusing them of lacking intensity, aggression and purpose. Yet, after leaving the stadium, I felt the situation was more nuanced than a simple lack of fire. There is no denying that United’s display was poor.
Carrick’s men did not look like a cohesive unit, and only the manager can truly explain the underlying reasons. From the outset it was clear that several of his key players were not yet at the sharpness they will reach in a few weeks’ time.
Six of the first‑team regulars had completed a full pre‑season, but the midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos was still new to each other, and that lack of familiarity showed. On the bench, the options were even more limited: Benjamin Šeško had not featured in any pre‑season games, and both Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford had only a handful of minutes after returning from England duty over the summer.
Hull, on the other hand, deserve massive credit for their organization. This was their first Premier League appearance in nine years, and they arrived with a squad that had enjoyed a complete pre‑season programme. Their preparation gave them a tactical edge and the physical readiness that United were missing. A myth that has been circulating on social media in the aftermath of the defeat needs to be addressed.
Some fans claim, "Four defeats out of five under Michael Carrick have come against teams playing with a back five." This is simply inaccurate. Two of those losses occurred in pre‑season fixtures – the opening summer game against Wrexham and the final friendly against AC Milan, managed by Ruben Amorim. Using those matches as evidence of a tactical weakness against a five‑man defence is misleading. Both the Hull loss and last season’s poor showing against Leeds at Old Trafford share a common thread: a noticeable physical shortfall.
In both games, United seemed to be out‑muscled, lacking the stamina and strength to compete for the full 90 minutes. That physical deficit is likely the most pressing concern for Carrick as he looks to improve the squad’s fitness levels.
Given these circumstances, I am inclined to give Carrick a pass on the Hull result. I would be surprised if United do not show a marked improvement against Ipswich on Sunday, especially if they can address the fitness gaps that were exposed. The midfield was identified as a priority heading into the season, and United have already invested over £150 million in new talent, with Carlos Baleba being the latest addition.
However, the club now finds itself in a familiar position: strengthening one area of the squad inevitably highlights the next biggest weakness. Looking back to 2025, United finally solved their attacking inefficiency by signing Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Once the forward line was sorted, the glaring need for midfield reinforcement became impossible to ignore. The club waited a full year, refusing to bring in a stop‑gap midfielder, hoping for a better market in the following summer.
A similar dilemma is playing out at left‑back. After securing three midfield signings, United’s next priority appears to be a quality left‑back, especially with Luke Shaw’s contract due to expire next summer.
The club has long admired Myles Lewis‑Skelly and Lewis Hall, and they sit high on United’s transfer list. Unfortunately, both clubs have publicly dismissed any chance of their players leaving, and Bruno Guimarães’s injury further reduces the likelihood of a Lewis‑Skelly move. United’s recent focus on attack and midfield over the past two transfer windows suggests they may be willing to wait another year to fix the defensive line, including the left‑back slot. While a late‑window creative signing cannot be ruled out, current indications point to a patient approach.
Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has been linked with United, but the Red Devils are not actively pursuing him at this stage. In the short term, Luke Shaw will need to stay healthy throughout the season, and United will have to rely on Patrick Dorgu, who is viewed as a long‑term solution at left‑back.
Both Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can also cover the position when needed. Regarding potential departures, it looks unlikely that any first‑team regulars will leave before the transfer deadline.
One name that has surfaced is Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, but interest from Italian clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete offer, so he is expected to remain at Old Trafford. In summary, while the Hull defeat was disappointing, it should be seen in context: a partially fit United side versus a well‑prepared Hull team. The physical shortcomings, limited pre‑season minutes for key players, and the integration of new midfielders all contributed to the sub‑par performance. Carrick deserves some leeway, and with a week to regroup, United have the opportunity to demonstrate the improvements they have been working toward.
The upcoming match against Ipswich will be a crucial barometer of whether the squad can translate its investment and pre‑season preparation into a more competitive display on the pitch.