Michael Carrick has responded to criticism directed at his Manchester United players following their opening day loss to Hull City, calling claims of a lack of passion “ridiculous.”
United suffered a 2-0 defeat at MKM Stadium on Saturday, marking a dismal start to their Premier League campaign.
In the aftermath, Carrick was questioned about a supposed “lack of passion” that contributed to a poor first-half showing in which newly-promoted Hull cashed in with two goals from set-pieces.
“Oh come on, that’s ridiculous,” the United head coach stated. “Just because you lose doesn’t mean you don’t care about it.”
When asked if Hull’s players had displayed more “passion” and “intensity,” Carrick responded: “No. Their two goals came from set pieces. Other than that, we had opportunities. It was those moments that made the difference in the game, not a lack of passion.”
Luke Shaw shared his thoughts with Viaplay, stating, “We had the same hopes as the fans,” adding, “We feel the same way, even now post-game. I’m confident this will be a good season for us.” He acknowledged the disappointment of starting the season on a low note but insisted, “One game won’t define us. We’ll regroup and strive for improvement.”
Next up for Carrick’s squad is another promoted side, Ipswich, at Old Trafford next Sunday, where they will need to perform significantly better than in their lackluster defeat at MKM Stadium.
Addressing the issue of set-pieces, Wayne Rooney, the club’s all-time leading scorer, criticized Shaw’s “schoolboy” defending on Hull’s second goal.
“We have to perform better as a team,” the England defender said before Rooney’s comments. “Heading into the match, we should have been more aware of their strengths, particularly from set pieces. It’s disappointing. Manchester United should be winning when visiting Hull, and we failed to do that.” He added, “No excuses—congratulations to Hull. We’ll refocus and get ready for another big game next week at Old Trafford.”
When Shaw was asked about anticipating Hull’s intensity and strategy from set pieces, he remarked, “We knew what to expect. A newly-promoted side in their first Premier League match would bring passion and determination, and the atmosphere would be electric. Before the match, we felt ready and positive.”
“It was a real shock to concede two set-piece goals, as it disrupted our momentum. However, I felt we had the chance to come back at half-time. We believed in ourselves but lacked that final touch in front of goal. Again, no excuses. It’s better that we experience this setback now at the beginning of the season so we can refocus and move forward next week.”
Press Association contributed to this report.