Jakirovic: Victory over Manchester United proves Hull belong in Premier League
By Molly Hunter, Press Association
Sergej Jakirovic expects confidence will prove key to Hull’s fortunes this season after they returned to the Premier League with a bang to defeat Manchester United 2-0.
The Tigers last competed at this level in 2017, and got the new campaign under way at home against Michael Carrick’s side having already been widely written off as a team likely to head immediately back down to the Championship.
Semi Ajayi gave Hull the advantage in the 17th minute and Nobel Mendy doubled that lead with a header in the 38th minute, leaving United trailing at the break by a deficit they would then fail to address in the second half.
Jakirovic hopes the result will cement an increased confidence among the squad, who set out this season to defy the lack of faith shown in them by pundits.
He said: “I’m very happy, our players put everything on the pitch today as we agreed. Through all this week this is what we have been practising and this is the result, I am very, very pleased with that.
“It’s a big boost for us for the future, I spoke all last week about the possibility that we can win. This is maybe the key because I have to convince my players that we are capable to play at this level.
“We showed last season we are mentally very strong and that we can compete against everyone, maybe that is the key.
“This victory is amazing because now they are convinced they can compete at this level.”
Jakirovic also believes the victory will have the added benefit of aiding Hull’s approaches in the transfer window, adding: “They will come now, 100 per cent. I don’t have any doubts.”
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick expressed his disappointment in the result but was keen to keep the outcome in context at this early stage of the season.
He said: “It is hugely disappointing, of course it is, we came here to win so to not take anything away is hugely disappointing. It’s not more than that, not less. We have to soak it up and come back stronger.
“It doesn’t mean you are passive if you get beat, the result is the result. We accept it, it is not a nice feeling but it is not going to change our direction as a team or a club. It can happen, we can be better. There were some things we were alright at.
“There are issues playing against different systems and we have to find answers to that.
“I played here for a long time, you don’t do that without the ups and downs but you have to carry on as normal. We just don’t all have to shout and scream and create some chaos. Calmness doesn’t mean there is not emotion. We have lost one game and it is not a nice one.”
