EPL: ‘I’ve been saying for weeks’ – Rio Ferdinand reacts to Man United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull

22 Aug 2026, 18:31 by John Owen Nwachukwu · Daily Post

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has reacted after the Red Devils’ 2-0 defeat to Hull City.

The Red Devils conceded two goals in the first half during their opening Premier League match at the MKM Stadium.

Hull City marked their return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence with a memorable performance, as defender Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Oli McBurnie’s shot was deflected onto the post by Senne Lammens.

In the 38th minute, club-record signing Nobel Mendy extended Hull City’s lead by heading in from Regan Slater’s free-kick.

Following Manchester United’s two-goal deficit, club legend Rio Ferdinand took to social media to share his reaction.

Ferdinand emphasized the challenges of facing newly promoted teams away from home in the opening match of the season. He also pointed out the need for the Red Devils to improve their defense against crosses.

He posted on X, “Not the 45 minutes we wanted… I have been saying for weeks, and Carra mentioned it yesterday, that facing a newly promoted team away from home is not ideal. The stadium was electric, and they were ready for the fight… Hull denied United any space, were solid defensively, and their crossing was exceptional. We must DEFEND crosses better!!!”

Michael Carrick’s team entered the match with high confidence after a strong finish to the 2025-26 season. They had an impressive second half of the season following Carrick’s appointment, ultimately finishing in third place.

Manchester United dominated possession with 72% and took 21 shots, achieving 40 touches in the opposition’s box.

EPL: ‘I’ve been saying for weeks’ – Rio Ferdinand reacts to Man United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull

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