Manchester United suffered a frustrating 2-0 loss to Hull City in their opening match of the Premier League campaign.
Carrick faced defeat against Hull.
Michael Carrick displayed some fire for the first time since being given the permanent manager’s role at Old Trafford when quizzed by Viaplay about his side’s apparent lack of intensity against Hull.
He responded by saying such criticism was ridiculous, pointing out that those asking such questions understand football and should know that losing a match does not mean players do not care about the result.
The Red Devils did not fall short in their application at the MKM Stadium, yet they were short on quality and Carrick’s strategic decisions backfired, which explains why newly-promoted Hull secured their maiden Premier League victory against United.
Both Hull’s strikes originated from dead-ball situations, making them preventable, and Shaw’s admission that the squad should have been better equipped for the contest raised concerns. Fernandes echoed similar sentiments, noting the same mistakes from the previous season occurring in every away game.
United found it difficult to penetrate Hull’s compact defensive shape, with Jakirovic deploying his team in a formation that proved stubborn to breach, meticulously arranged, robust in the challenge and dangerous from set-pieces.
Jakirovic gained the upper hand in the tactical duel with Carrick after recognising United’s vulnerability against sides employing a three-man defence. He explained their gameplan involved trying to switch the side during transitions because their wing-backs were completely alone, while also getting numbers into the box. He noted that United were coming very high with Luke Shaw and were trying to overload the midfield, so their main task was to close these gaps between the lines.
Hull’s assistant manager, Dean Holden, elaborated that Serg had it in the back of his mind for three or four weeks that he was thinking of playing a back five. He did not want to give anything away in pre-season, so they played a back four. Holden explained that the easiest thing to do in preparation was using some of the Milan clips and that Leeds the week before played a back three too, so that helped them with players where the systems looked similar.
Carrick has now suffered five defeats since taking charge, encompassing pre-season matches, with four of those setbacks coming against opponents utilising a five-man defence. These included the April reversal against Leeds, a narrow loss to Wrexham, a heavy defeat against AC Milan and the opening-day loss to Hull.
Newcastle were responsible for the sole other loss, and although they did not operate with a back five at St. James’ Park in March, they maintained a deep defensive line. United were unable to break down their low defensive block and paid the price.
When questioned about potential difficulties against five-man defences, Carrick replied that they had not lost many games in six or seven months. He stated that he understood they lost that day and there were questions to be asked, but it did not mean everything was wrong because they had lost a game. He emphasised that they had done a lot of good things and did some good things that day, but it gets lost, and he understood it would get lost. However, he stressed it does not get lost from their point of view. He acknowledged there were definitely issues playing against different systems. He said they had to find the answers for that, but it was just because they lost one game does not mean everything needed to be dissected and it was wrong from their point of view. He understood that from others, it happens, and that was how it was.
Nevertheless, Carrick has come unstuck against teams deploying a back five on enough occasions to suggest this is not mere chance, with a clear pattern emerging that the coaching team must confront.
United found it challenging to contain Hull’s wing-backs, who exploited space on the flanks before delivering crosses into the area for the youthful Oli McBurnie. The same vulnerability was evident in the final pre-season fixture against AC Milan, with Samuel Chukwueze tormenting them from the wing-back position.
There were instances where Shaw and Mazraoui were dragged out of position, leaving the remaining defensive unit exposed, and if Hull could exploit this weakness, then sides possessing greater quality certainly will.
On a positive note, United return to Old Trafford for their second fixture against Ipswich. The Tractor Boys operate with a back four, and United ought to be able to exert greater control than they managed at the weekend.
There is no escaping that United’s defeat to Hull was alarming. Significant optimism surrounded the new season, with United heavily fancied to begin with three points, but the visit of Ipswich presents a chance to recover.
Carrick enjoyed some comfortable victories following his January appointment, such as switching to a 4-3-3 and reintegrating Mainoo, and there are further favourable encounters available for him to benefit from with his selection this weekend.
Dalot, Yoro, Mainoo, Rashford and Sesko should all be afforded opportunities to start, ensuring an opening-day stumble does not develop into something more worrying. That represents how United can respond in the immediate term, but the tactical issue regarding opponents operating with five at the back will not simply vanish.