Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said that the club's players "spoke really loud" with their performance in Wednesday's EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.
The Red Devils were incredibly dumped out of the competition by the League Two side, losing 12-11 on penalties following a 2-2 draw between the two sides.
Man United came from two goals behind to force penalties in the second-round fixture, but Matheus Cunha missed the chance to win the shootout for Amorim's side, before Bryan Mbeumo struck his second penalty against the crossbar to hand Grimsby one of the biggest victories in their history.
The Man United head coach sent a cryptic message following the match, claiming that "the players spoke really loud" with their poor performance.
"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," he told Sky Sports News.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes on August 27, 2025
Man United lost 12-11 on penalties to Grimsby in EFL Cup
"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."
When quizzed on what he meant, Amorim said**:** "I think it's really clear what they spoke, so let's move on from this day and I think it was clear for everybody what happened today.
"The way we start the game without any intensity, all the idea of the pressure, we were completely lost and that's why I think they spoke really loud."
In his later press conference, Amorim spoke further, again insisting that Grimsby were fully deserving of their spot in the third round of the competition.
"Everything (went wrong). The way we started the game, we were not even here. When everything is so important in our club, everything that happened, it's a problem in our club, we should do so much better. I just have to say sorry to our fans," Amorim told reporters.
Charles Vernam of Grimsby Town celebrates scoring against Manchester United on August 27, 2025
"I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want. I think it's easy for you [how to interpret it]. Let's focus on the next game and then we have the stop for the international games. We will think things through.
"Doesn't matter [that we lost on penalties]. In the penalties, the feeling is the same. I think football was really fair today. The best team won.
"I'm the manager. It should be my job to understand what happened. Again, I'm really sorry for our fans. Let's focus on the next game. That is more than a result. That is the biggest problem in the team. I think it was really clear today.
"I would like to say very smart things and very important things. I have nothing to say. Nothing to say. That is the biggest problem also. To see the same mistakes and nothing to say in this moment. I'm really sorry for our fans. It's too much sometimes.
"You cannot change so much. You cannot change everything in one summer. You need to win games. You need to not show this kind of performance. I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change. In this moment, we need to focus on the weekend and then we have time to think."
When asked about Andre Onana's role in the defeat, Amorim said: "It's not about Andre. We are here with all due respect. I already said that the best team won.
"But this is a fourth division team. Andre should play just with his feet during this game? It's not that that happened. It's not the goalkeeper. It's more than that."
Onana was at fault for Grimsby's two goals, while he only managed to save one penalty in the shootout, with the Cameroonian either diving the wrong way or failing to get a strong hand behind the ball.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim on August 24, 2025
When are Man United back in action?
Man United will be aiming to record their first win of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign when they welcome Burnley to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
It is still early in the season, but that fixture has already become a must-win game for Amorim, as the pressure builds on the Portuguese following another underwhelming start to the campaign.
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