Carrick backs Dorgu after half-time hook as United fall to Hull defeat

Michael Carrick has moved to reassure Patrick Dorgu after hauling the Denmark international off at half-time during Manchester United’s defeat to Hull at the MKM Stadium on Saturday. Dorgu had attempted three shots in the opening 45 minutes — more than any other player on the pitch — but a lack of quality in the final third prompted Carrick to introduce Marcus Rashford for the second half.

Speaking after the game, Carrick was quick to dismiss any suggestion that the substitution reflected a loss of faith in the 20-year-old. “Pat’s fine, we love him to bits. He’s a fantastic player, Pat. He’s a great character,” the United head coach said. “He’s a big part of what we do, and he will be. So it was just one of those decisions. It’s nothing personal. Sometimes you’ve just got to make them, you know, trying to do something a little bit different.”

Dorgu was signed under Ruben Amorim to operate as a left wing-back, but Carrick has repositioned him as an out-and-out attacker since taking charge. The change against Hull means Rashford now presents a direct challenge for that role after offering more in the second half.

United were unable to find a breakthrough after the reshuffle, and striker Benjamin Sesko looked isolated when introduced with just over 20 minutes remaining. Carrick acknowledged the difficulty of integrating the Slovenia international, noting that Sesko “has been out for quite some time and hasn’t trained an awful lot.”

Bryan Mbeumo was among the brighter performers for United, with Carrick singling him out after the final whistle. “Bryan has been really good for a lot of pre-season and was one of our better players again today,” he said.

Carrick remained measured in his assessment of a side still searching for consistency, adding: “We’ve just got to keep finding those solutions. It happens, it does happen, it has happened before.”