How Hull kept plan to stun Man Utd secret

What the report says

Hull City’s Premier League return produced a major upset as they beat Manchester United 2-0 at home on the opening weekend, with assistant head coach Dean Holden later telling BBC’s Match of the Day that manager Sergej Jakirovic had kept the tactical plan hidden for weeks. According to BBC Sport Football, Hull lined up with a back five and used first-half goals from defenders Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy to secure their first league win over United since 1974.

The BBC reported that Jakirovic adjusted his approach after studying some of United’s pre-season games, including a defeat to AC Milan, and decided to use wing-backs to exploit spaces that United did not cover well. Holden said the club had rehearsed a back four in pre-season to avoid revealing the final plan, while also drawing on similar formations seen in other matches as preparation.

The result was notable not only because United finished third in the Premier League last season, but also because Hull had only recently fought to stay in the Championship and had been widely tipped to struggle after promotion through the play-offs. Holden said the team are comfortable playing without much possession and stressed that the priority remains survival, with a strong start expected to build belief within the squad.