Shaw did not need long. Speaking after Saturday’s defeat, the left back said out loud what most of the travelling supporters had already worked out: United had not done their homework on Hull.

“Really disappointing. It’s not us and we knew it was coming. I think as a whole, as a group, collectively, we could prepare better,” Shaw told Stan Sports.

Both Hull goals came from dead-ball situations. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring and Nobel Mendy added the second, punishing a side Shaw conceded had spent the week being warned about that exact threat.

“Disappointing, I think we knew Hull’s strengths. Set-plays and wide positions and crosses into the box. At times we did defend well, but the goals, set-plays, not good enough,” Shaw said in the same interview.

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Carrick pushes back on preparation criticism

Carrick was asked about Shaw’s assessment after the match.

“We did some good things today and it will get lost. We have to find answers but because we lose one game, it doesn’t mean everything needs dissecting,” the head coach said.

Three months into the permanent job

Carrick was only confirmed as permanent head coach on 22 May 2026, when the club handed him a contract running to 2028. He had stepped up in January after Ruben Amorim was moved on, and his interim run of 11 wins in 16 matches, plus a third-place finish and Champions League qualification, earned him the job on a full-time basis.

Carrick’s next Premier League test comes on 30 August.

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