Ruben Amorim's Manchester United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town and the Portuguese coach offered a brutal assessment after the embarrassment
10:06, 28 Aug 2025Updated 10:07, 28 Aug 2025
Ruben Amorim is under pressure at Manchester United after a humiliating start to the season
Ruben Amorim is under pressure at Manchester United after a humiliating start to the season
Ruben Amorim has triggered speculation about his future following his remarks after Manchester United's shocking Carabao Cup elimination by Grimsby Town.
United crashed out of the competition they last won in 2023, falling at the first hurdle to the League Two side who arguably deserved to win the game during regular time after taking a 2-0 lead. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire may have thought they had spared the Red Devils' blushes by levelling the score, but the Mariners triumphed on spot-kicks - leaving United's season in disarray after it has just begun.
Whilst Grimsby celebrated their triumph, United faced the reality of another devastating blow for the fallen giants, who last season finished 15th in their worst league campaign since being relegated in 1974. A stunned Amorim provided no alibis following the match, with some of his remarks raising the possibility that the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss might be questioning his own position.
He acknowledged "something has to change" but insisted it wouldn't involve "22 players again", reports the Mirror. The Portuguese manager said: "I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change.
"I think the team and the players spoke really loud today, so that's it. [Tonight] I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch."
Manchester United
Man United slumped to a penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
"I think it's really clear what they spoke, so let's move on from this day. I think it was clear for everybody what happened today.
"The way we start the game without any intensity, we were completely lost. In this moment, we need to focus on the weekend and then we have time to think."
With rumours swirling around Amorim's future after the Grimsby match, his post-match remarks are a stark contrast to his defiant stance when critics questioned him following United's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham back in May, which ensured Old Trafford would have no European football this season.
Following that heartbreaking loss to Tottenham, Amorim boldly declared he would step down without compensation if supporters or United's hierarchy lost confidence in his abilities as manager.
He stated defiantly at the time: "If the board and the fans feel I'm not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation. But I will not quit again. I am confident in my job. As you see, I will not change anything in the way I do things.
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"In this moment, I am not here to defend myself. It's not my style. I have nothing to show to the fans. In this moment [I need] a little bit of faith."