LONDON — Manchester United have endured bad nights before. But their shock League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby may go down as the club’s darkest since Sir Alex Ferguson retired more than a decade ago.
United were knocked out on penalties after scraping back from two goals down to draw 2-2. The shoot-out ended 12-11 in favour of Grimsby, a result that left the travelling fans in disbelief and manager Ruben Amorim furious.
“Something has to change,” Amorim said after the match. “The way we start the game without any intensity, we were completely lost. Tonight, the best team won — the only team on the pitch.”
The defeat piles fresh pressure on the 40-year-old Portuguese, who was appointed less than a year ago. Despite spending £200 million on high-profile signings, including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, United’s fortunes have not improved. They sit winless after three league games this season.
Amorim admitted he had “no more answers” when pressed on the team’s problems. “I do not even have anything to say,” he told the BBC.
For fans, the echoes of last season’s misery are unmistakable. United stumbled to 15th place in the Premier League, their lowest finish in the modern era. Yet the board had stood by Amorim, convinced he could restore order.
Inside the dressing room, frustration is also bubbling. Defender Diogo Dalot said the players had only themselves to blame. “I think we gave the game to them, straight away,” Dalot told MUTV. “Win duels, second balls, set-plays — exactly what they wanted. We fought back, but it was the minimum we could show to the fans. Clearly not good enough.”
Amorim is the sixth permanent manager since Ferguson’s departure, following big names such as Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho. Like his predecessors, he is learning how unforgiving Old Trafford can be. His record — 19 defeats and 17 wins in 10 months — makes grim reading.
Even so, there was an unlikely voice of support for the embattled coach. Grimsby’s manager, David Artell, called for patience. “Ruben Amorim needs time,” Artell said. “He is an excellent manager. You don’t become Manchester United manager if you are not good at your job. He will put that club back at the top table if he does get that time.”
Whether he will be granted that time remains to be seen. United face Burnley at Old Trafford this weekend, a match many see as must-win. Another defeat, and the calls for change may no longer come from the manager, but from above.
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