Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has pushed back firmly against suggestions that his squad lacked desire following their defeat to Hull City, calling such claims "lazy" and dismissing them outright.

The result left United under pressure, but Carrick was in no mood to accept the narrative that his players had failed to show the required commitment on the pitch. He made clear that the motivation of his squad was not up for debate.

Carrick's response signals his determination to protect the dressing room from outside criticism and to refocus his side as they look to recover from the setback against Hull City. The head coach's blunt assessment suggests he believes the loss had little to do with attitude and more to do with execution.

Manchester United will be expected to respond when they next take to the field, with Carrick insisting that the quality and effort within his group remain at the level required to compete.