Rooney pushes Carrick to drop Shaw, Santos after Hull upset

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces immediate pressure after his side suffered an opening‑day defeat to Hull City, prompting club legend Wayne Rooney to demand that Luke Shaw and Andrey Santos be dropped from the starting XI for the upcoming home clash with Ipswich.

Hull upset highlights United's woes

Hull produced the major upset of the weekend as Semi Ajayi and debutant Nobel Mendy each scored unanswered goals, giving Sergej Jakirovic's side a perfect start on their return to the Premier League. The result left United’s fanbase stunned despite the Red Devils’ possession dominance.

Rooney’s specific lineup recommendations

Rooney argued that “players need to take responsibility on the pitch” and suggested swapping Luke Shaw for Patrick Dorgu at left‑back, adding that Dorgu could be more aggressive. He also floated bringing Mainoo in for Andrey Santos and hinted that Diogo Dalot might replace Noussair Mazraoui if needed.

Upcoming challenge against Ipswich

The Red Devils return to top‑flight action at home to another Premier League newcomer, Ipswich, on Sunday, a fixture that could determine whether Carrick can steady his embryonic season. United’s next test arrives with the pressure of a fresh defeat still lingering.

Hull City’s victory was sealed by the two goals from Ajayi and Mendy, underscoring the impact of Sergej Jakirovic's tactical setup. United managed only five shots on target while holding 71 per cent of possession, a statistic that highlighted the inefficiency of the attack.

Wayne Rooney, speaking to Picture: The Overlap, emphasized that “when you play against a Hull City or Ipswich, the next game, you can set up however you want to set up and a lot of the time it’s decisions.” His comments were aimed at instilling a sense of accountability among the squad.

Michael Carrick, who was appointed on a full‑time basis earlier this summer, responded calmly but admitted the result was painful. He told reporters, “I’m talking to you quite calmly, but I’m not exactly calm inside and enjoying the day… Inside we’re hurting and we need to get better.”

United will also be without £70million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who was unveiled on Tuesday evening but is currently recovering from ankle ligament damage, limiting Carrick’s options ahead of the Ipswich game.