I attended Saturday's match and it was evident early on that Manchester United were outmatched by Hull City. Critics will undoubtedly heap criticism on Michael Carrick's side ahead of their next home fixture against Ipswich, pointing to a perceived lack of intensity, aggression and purpose.
Yet, after leaving Hull I sensed the situation was more layered than the usual sound‑bite. There is no doubt it was a poor showing. United failed to impose themselves, and only Carrick knows the exact reasons behind the under‑performance. From the outset, however, it was clear that several key players were not yet at the sharpness level they will reach in a few weeks' time.
Six of the first‑team regulars completed a full pre‑season programme, but the midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos was still relatively fresh, having only just begun to gel. On the bench, United fielded individuals far from full fitness.
Benjamin Šeško, for instance, had not logged any minutes in the pre‑season, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were still shaking off limited game time after returning from England duty over the summer. Their lack of match rhythm was palpable and contributed to the sluggishness on the pitch.
Hull, on the other hand, deserve massive credit. This was their first top‑flight appearance in nine years, yet they arrived as a well‑drilled unit that had enjoyed a complete pre‑season schedule.
Their preparation gave them a cohesion and fitness edge that United simply did not possess on the day. A myth that has been circulating on social media deserves to be debunked: the claim that "four of Carrick's five defeats have come against teams employing a back five" is simply inaccurate.
Two of those losses occurred in pre‑season fixtures – the opening game against Wrexham and the final friendly versus AC Milan under Ruben Amorim. Using those matches as evidence of a tactical weakness is misleading, as they are not competitive league games and involve experimental line‑ups.
When I compare the Hull defeat with United's poor performance against Leeds at Old Trafford last season, the similarities are striking. Both games were characterized by a noticeable physical deficiency – the players seemed out of breath, lacked the necessary stamina and were unable to compete for duels.
This physical shortfall is likely to be Carrick's most pressing concern as he looks to fine‑tune his squad. Given the context, I am inclined to grant Carrick a bit of a pass for the Hull result.
I would be genuinely surprised if United do not show a marked improvement against Ipswich on Sunday. The midfield has been a priority for the club this summer, and the arrival of Carlos Baleba, alongside other signings, signals a serious investment of over £150 million to shore up that area. Nevertheless, United now find themselves in a familiar position: strengthening one part of the team inevitably highlights the next biggest gap. Looking back to the summer of 2025, the club resolved its attacking inefficiencies by adding Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, only to expose a lingering need for midfield depth.
They opted to wait a full year rather than sign a stop‑gap midfielder, hoping the market would present a better long‑term solution the following summer. A comparable dilemma exists at left‑back. After securing three midfield reinforcements, United's next priority appears to be a quality left‑back, especially with Luke Shaw's contract due to expire next season. The names most frequently mentioned are Myles Lewis‑Skelly and Lewis Hall, both of whom are highly rated but currently entrenched at clubs that have dismissed any notion of a transfer.
Bruno Guimarães' injury further complicates matters, as it seems to rule out a potential move for Lewis‑Skelly. While United have concentrated on attacking and midfield upgrades over the last two transfer windows, it is plausible they will wait until the next summer to address defensive needs, including a first‑choice left‑back. That said, a late‑window surprise cannot be ruled out entirely. Barcelona's Alejandro Balde has been linked with United, but reports suggest the club is not actively pursuing him at this stage.
In the short term, the burden falls heavily on Shaw to stay fit throughout the season. United will also rely on Patrick Dorgu, who is seen as a long‑term prospect for the left‑back role, with seasoned options like Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot available to provide cover when needed.
Regarding departures, it looks unlikely that any senior first‑team players will leave before the transfer deadline. One potential exit that has been mentioned is Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, but interest from Italian clubs has yet to materialise into a concrete offer, and the player is expected to remain at Old Trafford. In summary, the Hull defeat should be viewed through a nuanced lens. United were missing match fitness, key players were still regaining sharpness, and Hull entered the game fully prepared.
Carrick has a genuine opportunity to rectify these issues before the next match, and the club's broader transfer strategy suggests a measured approach to squad building rather than knee‑jerk reactions. The upcoming fixture against Ipswich will be a crucial test of how quickly United can bounce back and whether the investments made over the summer start to pay dividends on the pitch.