Ruben Amorim is under fresh pressure at Manchester Unitedplaceholder image
Ruben Amorim is under fresh pressure at Manchester United | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd crashed out of the Carabao Cup after a defeat to Grimsby Town on penalties.
Grimsby Town manager Dave Artell believes Manchester United are 'on the right track' under Ruben Amorim despite their humiliating Carabao Cup exit on Wednesday night. The Mariners progressed 12-11 on penalties after United had fought back to salvage a dramatic 2-2 draw at Blundell Park.
Grimsby took advantage of some horrendous defending as they raced into a two-goal lead at half-time, but were pegged back by goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire. The game was decided by a hefty penalty shootout that was eventually settled when Mbeumo crashed his second effort from 12 yards against the crossbar.
The devastating result and atrocious performance will lead to further questions over the future of Amorim, though Grimsby boss Artell believes United are making progress under the Portuguese head coach. United have yet to win a match this season and will be under huge pressure to deliver three points when they host Burnley at home this weekend.
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Speaking after the match, Artell told ITV Sport: "A long penalty shoot-out. I said to Sean (Pearson) halfway through the shoot-out, first round last year, we beat Bradford 9-8 on penalties. I said to him before the penalty shoot-out started, look, what's a penalty shoot-out? It's a technical thing, it's a psychological thing. You've got brilliant techniques. We work hard every day to get better. It's a thing above the front door. Another chance to get better and this group want to get better. The techniques are fine, they're going to feel nervous walking up, butterflies. Don't worry about that.
"This is an accumulation of 15 months, 18 months, all encompassed in one night. Look, they're an unbelievable team, Manchester United. They've got an unbelievable manager and they're on the right track, you can see that. We've got an unbelievable group of players as well, who want to play for this football club, live in the area and want to get better every day."
When asked for his post-match verdict on the humiliating cup exit, Amorim admitted that the ‘best team’ won on a night when so many players underperformed. He told Sky Sports: “In the end, it doesn't matter if we recover or not, it's the signs the team gave during the game, the beginning of the game. I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch. The best players lose because one team can win against any group of players, and I think the team and the players spoke really loud today, so that's it. We lost, the best team won.”
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