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Hull City v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27Getty Images Sport

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"You can't let that happen": Schmeichel slams Manchester United trio

Peter Schmeichel has laid into three Manchester United players over their roles in the catastrophic defeat to Hull City on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

The optimism that had built up over pre-season evaporated inside 38 minutes. Goals from Semi Ajayi and Noble Mendy put the newly promoted side 2-0 up on Manchester United.

Chaos reigned for United's defence at Hull's first goal. Their players lost the battle for the first ball in the attack that led to the corner.

As the corner came in, Dorgu let the ball pass in front of him. Heaven, meanwhile, was not close enough to McBurnie, who steered it towards goal.

Analysing the goal at half-time, Schmeichel went after Dorgu for "not watching the ball", stressing that Heaven should have dealt with the Hull striker far more forcefully.

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The website Metro carried the statement of the Manchester United legend on the Premier League Productions programme, where he said: "Look at Dorgu at the near post, he's not even looking at the player taking the corner."

"At that precise moment, he loses his concentration, and he isn't able to clear the first ball," the former goalkeeper added.

Turning to Ayden Heaven at the far post, he continued: "He allowed McBurnie to get in behind him. You can't allow that to happen. This is not the way you defend. You have to be stronger."

United's handling of the second goal drew the same verdict. As players from both teams jostled for position inside the box at a free kick, Luke Shaw inexplicably dropped back, keeping Hull's players onside and undoing the offside trap.

"It's a complete lack of concentration from Manchester United," Schmeichel said after the final whistle. "That is the thing that disappoints me the most."

"I focused on Luke Shaw," he added. "He was two metres behind the rest of the players, and he kept everyone onside."

"He shouldn't have been in that place. He was fooled by the decoy. Had he stayed in his position, the players would have been offside, or the ball would have gone out to become a goal kick," he continued.

Schmeichel's parting shot: "What is disappointing for me is that a team with this much experience makes mistakes of this kind."

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