Talk about a car crash! Manchester United’s Carabao Cup dream ended in an absolute nightmare against Grimsby, with manager Ruben Amorim confessing his team was utterly “lost.” From costly penalties to forgettable performances, this defeat has left fans stunned and asking big questions. What went wrong for the Red Devils?
Manchester United suffered a stunning and humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby, a result that has plunged the club into an early-season crisis and left manager Ruben Amorim admitting his team was “completely lost.”
The dramatic encounter, decided by a marathon penalty shootout, saw the Premier League giants falter against lower-league opposition, marking a significant setback under Amorim’s leadership. This defeat has effectively extinguished any residual optimism that had built up prior to the new campaign.
After a tense 1-1 draw, the tie went to penalties. Despite Matheus Cunha missing a crucial spot-kick that could have secured victory for United in the initial five, the shootout continued with every subsequent player scoring until Mbeumo ultimately missed, handing Grimsby a stunning 12-11 win.
Following the disastrous performance, a visibly agitated Amorim confessed that “the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch,” highlighting a profound lack of effort and cohesion from his squad. His post-match comments underscored the depth of disappointment and concern pervading the Manchester United camp.
Key new signings also struggled, with Benjamin Sesko making his first start after a hefty £74 million transfer from RB Leipzig, while goalkeeper Andre Onana endured a night to forget. Onana’s return to goal was marred by errors, particularly in dealing with crosses, echoing vulnerabilities seen in previous matches.
This humiliating Carabao Cup exit only intensifies the scrutiny on Ruben Amorim, whose promises of improvement after a “disaster” of a previous season now ring hollow. A potential defeat against Burnley in the upcoming Premier League fixture could significantly heighten pressure on the Portuguese boss, who appeared to have few answers at Blundell Park.
Pundits further amplified the criticism, questioning Amorim’s tactical decisions, such as making eight changes to the starting lineup and maintaining a defensive back five formation even against a lower-league opponent sitting deep. The perception of Manchester United’s manager is undoubtedly taking a severe hit after this embarrassing performance.
The analysis highlighted a fundamental disconnect, with observations pointing to a lack of attacking impetus and a mindset that suggested complacency. Experts like McAnuff and Jones dissected the team’s failure to adapt and dominate, despite their superior individual talent, leading to a collective collapse.
