Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with a damaging 2-0 defeat, and the club's captain placed responsibility squarely on his colleagues for the turnover-prone display. Hull City scored through Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy to claim what Fernandes described as a famous win over the Red Devils, after a match in which United surrendered possession and control at key moments.
Fernandes publicly criticised the team's habitual errors, saying they repeated the same failings from last season that continue to cost them. He told reporters, "Same mistakes as we did last season, every away game we give too much of the ball to them." The captain singled out the opening spell as especially concerning, noting how the hosts were allowed to settle into the contest while United did not impose themselves.
He highlighted the unusual distribution of touches early on to underline the lack of presence higher up the pitch, saying, "In the first 20 minutes, the goalkeeper was the one with the most touches." Fernandes argued the side failed to press and lacked aggression when it mattered, adding, "We needed to press more, be more aggressive, and then again we need to work on set-plays and not concede these type of goals."
Fernandes also pointed to Hull's tactical preparation around dead-ball situations and match-day adjustments, saying, "Against these types of teams, they are waiting for that moment. We knew before the game set-pieces would be a big part of their game. They played all pre-season with a back four but had a five against us for some height, for these moments." Those observations underlined his view that Manchester United failed to adapt to both a specific gameplan and recurring internal weaknesses.
The captain's comments make clear where immediate attention must fall, on pressing intensity and defending set-pieces. With the squad's errors traced back to both habit and preparation, United face pressure to correct those details before their next fixtures to avoid further setbacks.
