Hull City sent an emphatic statement to their doubters on Saturday, but the message from coach Sergej Jakirovic to last season's squad was just as important.

Hull have signed 11 players in this transfer window, and Jakirovic still wants two new strikers, two wingers and possibly some defenders after having to substitute four at the weekend in their stunning Premier League opener.

But 11 of May's Championship play-off final winners played in the 2-0 win at home to Manchester United.

Secured by first-half set-piece goals from centre-backs Semi Ajayi and debutant Nobel Mendy, it was the perfect riposte to those who wrote off the Tigers’ chances of surviving their first Premier League season since 2016-17.

Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo attempts to go past Hull City's Ryan Giles (right) during the Premier League opener at the MKM Stadium (Picture: Annabel-Lee Ellis/PA)

placeholder image — Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo attempts to go past Hull City's Ryan Giles (right) during the Premier League opener at the MKM Stadium (Picture: Annabel-Lee Ellis/PA)

"I'm hoping that sends a bit of a message out to the rest of the league and everybody watching that we're not just here to make the numbers up," said Ryan Giles, who kept his place from Wembley.

"There's a good core in that dressing room with brilliant togetherness and resilience. I appreciate it's only one game, but something to take confidence from.

"We're going to have to ride the storm at times and we'll probably have setbacks but it doesn't get much better than this."

Amongst this summer's new arrivals have been Matt Targett, who came on for Giles in the 85th minute, and Elliot Stroud, who played left wing-back for Sweden at the World Cup, but was in front of Giles on Saturday in Hull's 5-2-3 formation. The significance of Jakirovic keeping his trust in him was neither lost on Giles nor taken for granted.

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic acknowledges the crowd after winning the Premier League match against Manchester United at the MKM Stadium (Picture: PA)

"It means the world," he said. "We don't take it for granted because the manager's got a ruthless streak.

"But to know that he feels like he can trust you in the Premier League against Manchester United, it means an awful lot. There's a brilliant togetherness in that dressing room, especially from last season. That was one of the biggest parts of us getting over the line.

"There's going to be new bodies coming in that hopefully make us stronger, but then ultimately it's down to us who were playing in the Championship to prove that we can play in this division.

"It's always nice if it's just you (who can play a position), but this is football. If I don't step up, I won't be a part of the Premier League."

Giles felt the way both goals came about was important, and how the Red Devils were kept at arm's length in front of calming £20m goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was reminiscent of 2025-26. "It's nice to get two goals from set plays," said Giles. "We kept the spaces tight as we knew what they were about and we've done a number on them."

The home fans took glee in proving the pundits wrong, with "Are you watching Joe Cole" ringing out in a nod to their most disrespectful media critic.

Victory puts Hull in great shape for their first away game, at last season's Championship winners Coventry City. They lost 3-0 at Arsenal the previous evening.

"It's just part of being involved in the Premier League," said Giles of the pre-season predictions. "Everybody's watching, everybody's got opinions.

"To go away to The Emirates is going to be tough for anybody this season. But (Coventry) will know how much of a big game Saturday is as well as we do."

Ajayi (hamstring), Mendy (adductor) and Lewie Coyle (ankle) came off with second-half injuries.