Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacted strongly to a post-match question about his team's perceived lack of passion during their defeat against Hull City.
After goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, both from set-pieces, secured a victory for the newly promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium, Carrick was interviewed by former player and Viaplay broadcaster Jan Age Fjortoft. Fjortoft asked if Carrick would accept that there was a lack of passion in the first half.
"Oh come on, that's ridiculous," Carrick responded. "That's not how you would assess it? Come on, you played football, you understand, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Just because you got beat doesn't mean you don't care about it."
Fjortoft clarified that he meant the opposition displayed more passion, not that Manchester United players lacked care. Carrick maintained that the outcome was due to Hull City's effectiveness on set-pieces and their ability to capitalize on opportunities, not a deficiency in his team's passion.
"No, no. Their two goals came from set plays. Other than that, we had opportunities," Carrick stated. "That was where the game was. I don't think it was passion or anything to do with that. I think it was just their moment that made the difference in the game."
Carrick acknowledged the toughness of the Premier League fixture, particularly on the opening day at home for Hull City. He noted that while his team had been generally strong on set-pieces, they faltered on this occasion. He added that the team would analyze the performance to identify areas for improvement without overreacting to the result.
The defeat marked a significant setback for Manchester United, especially considering Carrick's record of losing only two of 17 matches in his interim charge. Reports indicated that the team's new midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos did not perform convincingly, with both players being substituted in the second half.
Carrick had previously described talk of a title challenge as a "jump," and on-field performances, this result has led some observers to question any such ambitions for the season. The team's transfer business, including the expected arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton for £70 million, was also highlighted as a point of discussion following the loss.