Manchester United have plenty to think about after a poor opening-day performance against Hull City.
The 2-0 defeat wasn’t just about failing to score. The way Manchester United conceded both goals raised questions about their defending.
Michael Carrick’s side were punished twice from set pieces at the MKM Stadium. Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy found the net inside the first 38 minutes, leaving United with a mountain to climb long before half-time.
There were mistakes all over the pitch, but Peter Schmeichel felt two young defenders were at fault for the first goal.
Schmeichel points finger at Dorgu and Heaven
Speaking on Premier League Productions, the former United goalkeeper focused on the roles of Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven.
Peter Schmeichel wasn’t impressed with Dorgu’s positioning at the near post, while he also felt Ayden Heaven allowed Oli McBurnie too much freedom at the other end of the defensive line.
“Look at Dorgu on the front post, he is not even looking at the guy taking the corner kick. At that exact moment, he loses his concentration, he does not have the ability to block the first ball.
“And of course, Ayden Heaven on the back post. He allows [Oli] McBurnie to go in behind him. You can’t allow that. That’s not how you defend, you have to be stronger.”
It might be particularly harsh criticism after just one league game, but the mistakes cost Manchester United big.
United had chances to get themselves back into the game, yet going two goals behind made the task much harder. They eventually never recovered from the defensive mistakes, allowing Hull City to register their first win in the Premier League over Manchester United.
Schmeichel’s biggest frustration, though, wasn’t necessarily the set-piece routine itself. He frowned the lack of focus he felt United showed against an aggressive Hull City.
Wayne Rooney questions United’s intensity
Peter Schmeichel also pointed to Luke Shaw’s positioning when discussing United’s defensive errors in the game.
“I picked on Luke Shaw. Luke Shaw is two yards behind everyone else, playing everyone else onside.”
He added: “He shouldn’t be there. He fell for the dummy. If he stayed up there, he would be either offside or it would have gone out for a goal kick.”
These errors shouldn’t have come from someone of Luke Shaw’s experience but they cost United big.
“That’s a disappointment for me, that an experienced team like that makes mistakes like that.”
Wayne Rooney had a different concern. The former United striker focused on what happened when Hull had possession.
Rooney felt Manchester United weren’t aggressive enough without the ball and allowed Hull to settle into the game.
“They sat in a mid block, didn’t get any pressure on the ball, I think they won two balls in Hull’s final third, there needs to be more energy in the press, how they go and win the ball back. Today was all too passive.”
Michael Carrick and Manchester United have till next Saturday to recover from the embarrassing loss as they welcome another newly promoted team, Ipswich to the Old Trafford for their first home game of the season.
