Ruben Amorim launched a furious attack on Manchester United players after an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit as the Red Devils boss vowed to fix mounting problems. United’s season lurched into full-blown crisis on Wednesday night as League Two minnows Grimsby edged them 12-11 in penalty shootout. The tie had already descended into chaos before the shootout, with United forced to rescue themselves from two goals down against opponents who cost a fraction of their squad value.
Amorim slams United after Grimsby humiliationLeague Two side triumph in epic shootoutPressure mounts ahead of Burnley clashFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Charles Vernam lit up the night with a superb 22nd-minute strike that arrowed beyond Andre Onana. United’s defence, already fragile this season, was exposed again just before the interval as Onana failed to deal with a routine delivery and Tyrell Warren pounced to poke in Grimsby’s second. While Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire scored in the final quarter to take the game to penalties, the former struck the woodwork in his second attempt to hand Grimsby their place in the next round.
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After the match, Amorim lashed out at his players and said: "I know that the best team won. The only team that was on the pitch. The best players lost. Any team can win against group of players. I think that the team and the players spoke really loud today. That’s it. We lost, the best team won. It’s not just the space [Manchester United gave Grimsby], but the way we started the game without any intensity. All of the ideas about the pressure, we were completely lost. It is hard to explain."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The defeat piles even more pressure on Amorim, who is still chasing his first Premier League victory this season after losing out to Arsenal and drawing against Fulham in the first two top-flight matches. United’s start to the campaign has been chaotic, their defensive weaknesses glaring, and their attack worryingly toothless. To be outfought and outplayed by a League Two side has left supporters furious, questioning both the commitment of the players and the direction of the club under the Portuguese.
