Shaw admits United failed to prepare for Hull's set-pieces after 2-0 opening-day loss

Luke Shaw has admitted Manchester United were insufficiently prepared for Hull City’s set-piece threat after the Red Devils fell to a 2-0 defeat at the KCOM Stadium on the opening day of the season.

Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored first-half goals from dead-ball situations to hand Hull a commanding victory, leaving United with nothing to show from their first league outing.

Shaw was candid in his post-match assessment, telling Stan Sports: “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 from set-plays were not good enough. We knew they were going to be good from set-plays and ultimately it’s cost us the three points today.”

The left-back went further, placing collective responsibility on the squad for a failure to translate that knowledge into action. “I think as a whole, as a group, collectively, we could prepare better,” he said. “Especially knowing how good they are at set-plays and what their dangers are.”

Shaw also pointed to a lack of cutting edge in attack as a secondary concern, noting that United struggled to create the chances needed to fight back into the game after falling behind.

Despite briefly invoking the early stage of the season as context, Shaw was quick to dismiss it as mitigation. “No excuses at all in this game,” he said. “No way is that an excuse — Manchester United should be coming to Hull and, no disrespect to them, we should be winning the game.”

Former United striker Wayne Rooney was equally blunt in his analysis, singling out Shaw for particular criticism. Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney described the defending that led to Hull’s second goal as “schoolboy” in nature, pointing to Shaw dropping five yards behind the defensive line at a free-kick and leaving the ball impossible to deal with.

“Hull had a game plan: get the ball in the box and pick up second balls, and Man United found it really difficult,” Rooney said.

United, managed by Michael Carrick, will look to bounce back next weekend when they face another newly promoted side in Ipswich Town, who opened their own campaign with a late win over Sunderland.