'Come on, that's ridiculous!': Man United boss Michael Carrick snaps at ex-player interviewer as pressure hits on first question about his team's 'passion' after collapsing at promoted Hull City

Published: 07:50 BST, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 08:24 BST, 24 August 2026

Michael Carrick snapped at a reporter's 'ridiculous' opening question after Manchester United's shock defeat by Hull City on Saturday.

The United manager was affronted when asked if his players had lost against the newly promoted club due to a lack of 'passion'.

United's Premier League season got off to a nightmare start as goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy – both stemming from set-pieces – put them to the sword in Yorkshire. 

Carrick was interviewed afterwards by Viaplay broadcaster Jan Age Fjortoft, the Norwegian who played for Swindon, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, and Barnsley in the 1990s.

'Would you accept that there was a lack of passion in the first half?' asked Fjortoft. 

Michael Carrick said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest his Manchester United team lacked passion in their 2-0 defeat by Hull City 

He was vexed by the question posed by Viaplay reporter and former play Jan Age Fjortoft 

“Come on, that’s ridiculous.”Michael Carrick wasn’t happy when asked if there was a lack of passion from #mufc in their first half vs Hull.via @ViaplayFotball pic.twitter.com/zyca5r5iSr

'That's not how you would assess it?' asked Fjortoft. 

Carrick replied: 'Come on, you played football, you understand, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Just because you got beat doesn't mean you don't care about it.' 

Fjortoft said: 'I'm not saying that you didn't care about it. If you look at it, they came with passion, that's what I mean. I understand that you care about it, but would you accept that they took you on that front, so to say?' 

'No, no. Their two goals came from set plays. Other than that, we had opportunities,' Carrick said. 'That was where the game was. I don't think it was passion or anything to do with that. I think it was just their moment that made the difference in the game.' 

Fjortoft said: 'Is it these duels? Is that what you mean? That these two duels were the goals? Because they had chances. There were consequences there from the game that you could see that they would get at you.'

'It’s a game of football, it’s a Premier League game,' Carrick replied. 

Source: Read the original article on www.dailymail.com