Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is facing fresh questions over his decision to use Patrick Dorgu as a winger after the Danish international struggled to make an attacking impact during United’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hull City.
United entered the opening Premier League game of the 2026/27 campaign hoping to begin Carrick’s first full season as permanent manager with a positive result. Instead, the Red Devils suffered a damaging defeat at the MKM Stadium, with Hull City scoring twice in the first half through set-piece situations.
Dorgu was selected on the left side of United’s attack, with Matheus Cunha operating through the middle and Bryan Mbeumo starting on the right. The decision reflected Carrick’s willingness to continue experimenting with Dorgu in an advanced position, a role he has increasingly been used in during his time at Manchester United.
However, the experiment once again failed to produce the attacking influence Carrick wanted.
Dorgu Struggles to Influence the Game
Dorgu has shown that he possesses the physical qualities to play in attacking areas, but the Hull match highlighted some of the limitations that remain when he is asked to operate as a conventional winger.
The 21-year-old struggled to consistently beat his marker, create chances or provide the kind of attacking creativity United desperately needed after falling behind.
United’s starting lineup confirmed Dorgu in the attacking trio alongside Mbeumo and Cunha. Yet as the game developed, Hull appeared increasingly comfortable dealing with United’s wide threat.
The problem was not simply Dorgu’s individual performance. United’s overall attacking structure lacked fluidity, and the team struggled to create clear opportunities. But Dorgu’s inability to provide a consistent threat from the left became one of the most noticeable tactical issues.
Reports following the match described his performance as particularly disappointing, with one assessment rating him only 3/10 before he was replaced at half-time.
That decision to remove him was significant.
It suggested that Carrick recognised the problem and was unwilling to allow the experiment to continue into the second half.
Carrick’s Tactical Experiment Backfires
Carrick’s decision to use Dorgu as a winger was always going to attract attention because the player is naturally more comfortable operating from deeper positions.
The former Lecce player has been transformed into a left winger at Manchester United, and his ability to contribute in the final third has made him an interesting tactical option. Even before the Hull game, his role had been identified as one of Carrick’s major selection decisions because Matheus Cunha also prefers operating from the left.
Carrick therefore faced a difficult tactical puzzle.
With Benjamin Sesko not considered ready to start after his long lay-off, Cunha was used centrally, allowing Dorgu to occupy the left wing and Mbeumo to remain on the right.
On paper, the arrangement offered United pace, physicality and versatility.
On the pitch, however, it failed to produce enough attacking quality.
Hull defended with confidence and intensity, while United repeatedly struggled to find space in dangerous areas.
The newly promoted side were particularly impressive in the first half, scoring twice and putting United under significant pressure. By half-time, the visitors were 2-0 down and Carrick had a major tactical problem to solve.
Dorgu’s Role Becomes a Major Talking Point
The defeat has inevitably reopened the debate over whether Dorgu should be used as a winger at all.
There is no question that Dorgu has the athletic ability to play higher up the pitch. He is powerful, quick and capable of carrying the ball over long distances.
However, playing as a modern winger requires more than physical qualities.
A winger must be able to receive the ball under pressure, manipulate defenders, create one-on-one situations, combine quickly with midfielders and forwards, and deliver consistently in the final third.
Against Hull, Dorgu struggled to provide those qualities.
United supporters expressed frustration during the match, with several fans questioning why Carrick continued to use him in the attacking role.
The criticism became particularly intense because this was not the first time concerns had emerged about Dorgu playing as an attacking winger.
For Carrick, that makes the situation more complicated.
If Dorgu continues to struggle in that position, the manager may eventually have to accept that the experiment is not producing enough benefits.
The Half-Time Substitution Sends a Message
One of the clearest indications that the tactical plan was not working came when Carrick substituted Dorgu at half-time.
With United trailing 2-0, the manager needed to introduce greater attacking quality and change the way his team approached the game.
Marcus Rashford was brought into the contest, giving United another player capable of carrying the ball and attacking space. Dorgu’s removal therefore became an important moment in the match.
It was not necessarily an admission that Dorgu cannot play on the wing.
Instead, it highlighted the difference between having a player capable of occupying a position and having a player capable of consistently influencing matches from that position.
Against Hull, United needed the latter.
United’s Bigger Problem Was Not Just Dorgu
While Dorgu’s performance has attracted considerable attention, Carrick cannot blame the defeat entirely on the youngster.
United’s problems were much deeper.
The team conceded two goals from set pieces, struggled defensively and failed to respond effectively after falling behind.
The midfield also failed to impose itself.
New arrivals Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos were handed their Premier League debuts, but United struggled to control the contest. The lack of midfield dominance meant that the forwards received limited quality service.
Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, was unable to produce the creative influence United needed from their captain.
That combination created an environment in which Dorgu was always going to find it difficult to succeed.
Nevertheless, the decision to use him as a winger remains an important tactical question for Carrick.
Why Carrick May Need to Rethink Dorgu’s Position
Dorgu could still become an important player under Carrick.
The Danish international possesses qualities that United can use.
His pace can help United transition quickly, while his physicality allows him to compete against powerful opponents. His willingness to attack space also makes him useful when United are playing against teams that defend with a high line.
But against opponents who sit deeper, Dorgu’s limitations become more obvious.
Hull demonstrated exactly that problem.
United were expected to have long periods of possession and needed players capable of unlocking a compact defensive structure. Dorgu struggled to provide the creativity required.
This could encourage Carrick to reconsider whether Dorgu is better suited to a more traditional left-back or wing-back role, where his physical qualities and defensive work can become greater assets.
Alternatively, Carrick could continue developing him as a winger but use him in specific tactical situations rather than relying on him as the primary source of creativity.
The Cunha Question
Another issue Carrick must solve is Matheus Cunha’s position.
Cunha is naturally comfortable operating from the left side, but United have increasingly used him centrally because of the club’s attacking options and the absence of a fully fit Benjamin Sesko.
That decision creates a chain reaction.
If Cunha plays centrally, Dorgu can occupy the left wing.
If Dorgu is moved away from the wing, United need another solution on the left.
If Cunha returns to the left, United need another striker.
Carrick’s tactical choices are therefore interconnected.
The Hull defeat showed that the current arrangement still requires work.
A Warning Sign for Carrick
The defeat could prove to be an early warning for Carrick rather than a disaster.
The manager has already demonstrated that he is willing to experiment with his squad, and United have made significant changes during the summer.
The midfield has been rebuilt, new players have arrived and several existing players are being asked to perform different roles.
Carrick therefore deserves time to develop the system.
However, the Premier League does not provide managers with unlimited time.
Losing 2-0 to a newly promoted team on the opening day will inevitably increase scrutiny, particularly when the performance is as flat as United’s was.
Carrick himself had warned before the game that facing a newly promoted side away from home would not be easy, dismissing suggestions that the opening fixtures against Hull and Ipswich represented a straightforward start.
The result proved his warning correct.
Hull played with intensity and confidence, while United appeared unable to cope with the physical and tactical demands of the contest.
What Happens Next for Dorgu?
The biggest question now is whether Carrick will continue using Dorgu as a winger in the next Premier League fixture.
The manager could decide to keep faith with him and give him another opportunity to prove himself.
That would be understandable.
Young players often require consistency and confidence, and removing Dorgu from the position after one poor performance could prevent him from developing.
But Carrick could also decide that United need a different profile.
If the manager wants more creativity and combination play from the left wing, Dorgu may not currently provide enough.
The emergence of other attacking options could therefore push Carrick towards a tactical change.
United Cannot Afford Another Flat Performance
The biggest lesson from Hull is that Manchester United cannot rely solely on individual quality.
The team must have a clear attacking structure.
Against Hull, United struggled to create meaningful opportunities despite having several talented attacking players on the pitch.
That cannot continue if Carrick wants United to challenge near the top of the Premier League.
The defeat also highlighted the importance of having players who are comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas.
Dorgu’s physical qualities remain valuable, but United need more than speed and strength when facing compact opponents.
They need creativity, movement and intelligent combinations.
Carrick’s Next Decision
For Carrick, the Hull defeat now creates an important tactical decision.
Does he continue with Dorgu as a winger and trust that the player can improve?
Or does he return Dorgu to a deeper position and find another solution for the left side of the attack?
The manager’s answer could have significant consequences for United’s attacking structure.
What happened against Hull was particularly damaging because the problem was visible early.
United struggled to threaten from the left, and Dorgu was eventually taken off at half-time.
Carrick now has the opportunity to learn from the experience.
Conclusion
Michael Carrick’s first Premier League match of the new season ended in disappointment as Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat against newly promoted Hull City.
The result exposed several problems, including defensive weakness, midfield inconsistency and a lack of attacking creativity. But Patrick Dorgu’s role as a winger has emerged as one of the biggest tactical talking points.
Dorgu was unable to make the desired impact from the left, and his half-time substitution underlined how ineffective the arrangement had become.
The experiment may still work in the future, particularly against opponents who leave space behind their defence. But Hull showed that United need a different solution when they are expected to dominate possession and break down a disciplined defensive block.
Carrick now faces an important decision.
He can continue developing Dorgu as an attacking player, or he can accept that the winger experiment needs to be reconsidered.
For Manchester United, the priority is clear: the tactical lessons from Hull must be learned quickly.
The season has only just begun, but after such a disappointing opening day, Carrick cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes.