Manchester United endured their worst loss in recent memory on Wednesday night by losing to League Two outfit Grimsby on penalties in the second round of the Carabao Cup – and the Old Trafford faithful, in their post-match hysteria, have singled out Benjamin Sesko for his ‘embarrassing’ action.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, after failing to win either of his first two 2025/26 Premier League matches against Arsenal and Fulham, reached the nadir of his time in the United dugout after exiting the competition at the earliest possible convenience.
The performance by the Red Devils was nothing short of ugly – and the Portuguese tactician is, slowly but surely, losing the patience of the fanbase, with some even believing that it’s time to part ways with the 40-year-old, who spoke after the game.
“It’s not about the result. In the penalties, I was not thinking about the penalties to go to the next stage. I think the way we played, the way we faced the competition – when everything is so important, I think the players spoke really loud about what they want today."
Watch the highlights from Man Utd's loss to Grimsby Town:
Fans Slam ‘Embarrassing’ Man Utd Ace After Penalty Shootout Loss to Grimsby
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Amorim – widely regarded as one of the best young managers in world football – now finds himself in an awkward position: unless United reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, this season will see them play the fewest number of games since 1914/15.
The giant-killing encounter was Benjamin Sesko’s first start in United colours since joining the club this summer – and the centre-forward, the first Slovenian to play for the 13-time Premier League champions, is yet to score under Amorim’s tenure.
Unveiled ahead of United’s final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina, Sesko was expected to alleviate the goalscoring burden on his teammates – but United supporters are all slamming him for taking the club’s tenth penalty against Grimsby. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one wrote:
“Benjamin Sesko going 10th in a penalty shootout vs League Two opposition has to be a major red flag for a £70m centre-forward.”
Benjamin Sesko Stats vs Grimsby
Minutes
Touches
Touches in Opp. Box
Total Shots
Shots on Target
Accurate Passes
Duels Won
“I’m so glad we didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko. Imagine Viktor Gyokeres was our 10th penalty taker in a shootout vs Grimsby,” a second said before another added: “That’s pathetic from Benjamin Sesko. You’re the number 9 for Manchester United and you take the 10th penalty out of the 11th in a shootout?”
Of course, it is currently unknown whether the decision to put the 22-year-old infront of only goalkeeper Andre Onana in the running order – and behind the likes of Matthijs de Ligt – was his decision or Amorim’s. Alas, another believes the decision was ‘pathetic’.
“That’s pathetic from Benjamin Sesko. You’re the number 9 for Manchester United and you take the 10th penalty out of the 11th in a shootout?”
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So far in his career, the former RB Leipzig talisman – who was also admired by Newcastle United pre-Old Trafford – has scored all 11 of the penalties that he’s taken for club and country. “Lost in all of this is that Benjamin Sesko, United’s €80m striker, went 10th(!!!) in the shootout order. Game’s gone if your big money striker is going 10th in a penalty shootout,” another fan said.
Gabriel Agbonlahor, formerly of Aston Villa, also called out the young striker for his cowardice. "Also, your star striker was probably waiting for the Manchester United groundsman to turn up to Grimsby and take the penalty. He was tenth in line before the keeper. How can your star striker let all the defenders take a penalty before you?
"He takes one, and scores it. That shows, to me, that he's a coward as well. A lot of them players are cowards and I don't use that word softly because there's nothing worse, as a man, than being called a coward. Sesko, he might go on to be a fantastic player for Manchester but last night, to take the tenth penalty, shows a lot about his character for me."