United's Carrick gets early reality check at Hull

HULL, England, Aug 22 : Manchester United arrived in Hull on Saturday riding a wave of optimism that had not washed over Old Trafford for years. They departed the east coast after a shock Premier League defeat that left manager Michael Carrick with uncomfortable questions to answer.The 2-0 defeat by promoted Hull City was only one game, but it felt like a sudden cold shower after eight months of sunshine. Since replacing Ruben Amorim in January, Carrick had overseen a revival, dragging a confidence-starved team from mid-table obscurity to a third-place finish. United collected 39 points from 17 league games under their new manager, more than any other side in that span.Carrick brought clarity, confidence and attacking intent, while signings including Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos - wit