Manchester United were humbled by League Two side Grimsby Town on TV in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Liam is a senior sports journalist who currently operates across several centres with the Reach PLC network. He has worked for various Reach publications since graduating from the University of Huddersfield with a First Class honours degree in Sports Journalism & Media in 2012. His current duties - for the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo and football.london - include writing news articles, trends pieces, live blogging and matchday content. He previously covered League Two side Grimsby Town, breaking exclusive stories on manager sackings, player signings and takeover developments.
Ruben Amorim slumps in the dugout.
Ruben Amorim and a multi-million pound Man Utd team were humbled by Grimsby.
"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.
"I think the team and players spoke really loud. So that's it."
The biggest worry for Ruben Amorim? This is now hisManchester United team.
It was chaotic, gripping, dramatic, emotional and, ultimately, for United, this was catastrophic. Things have not yet fallen into place for Amorim at the United helm, but this was an undoubted and humiliating nadir.
Last season, the Portuguese could hide behind a number of excuses for underwhelming performances. He was, for the most part, putting square pegs in round holes to blood his tried-and-tested wing-back formation, using players signed by Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.
But on Wednesday night - at humble Blundell Park in Cleethorpes - the former Sporting CP head coach unleashed his starting XI and that £400million-plus ensemble were shown up good and proper.
And by little old Grimsby Town, live on national TV!
Naturally, the aftermath of this most harrowing of "cup-sets" is going to focus on United's clear shortcomings, the future of Amorim and the countless millions that have been spent on players that are not up to standard. But that should be the backdrop to the most magical and unthinkable David (literally) vs Goliath success.
I have to make a confession here. While I've worked on and off as a writer for The Manchester Evening News since 2021, working on all things United (and City) in support of our fantastic, dedicated club reporters, I'm Grimsby born and bred, and have watched them drop all the way from the Championship (then Division One) as an 8-year-old to non-league, twice, but memories of some dark, dark days have lifted now.
As any Grimsby supporter will tell you right now, last night was all a bit surreal, throwing up a blend of emotions, none of which feel real at this moment. When Charles Vernam's opener hit the net, disbelief. When former United youngster Tyrell Warren bundled home a second, ecstasy.
After goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire... the chance had surely gone? Penalties? Heart and head both pounding, the voice long gone from shouting and singing. When Mbeumo crashed against the crossbar? Yet more disbelief, elation and every emotion you could think of. Above all, pride.
And yet post-match, with my work hat back on, the focus was United. It even was for one Grimsby hero!
"It's not sunk in yet. I'm a Man Utd fan, so I'm half-fuming a little bit."
The brilliant pitch-side reaction from Grimsby goalkeeper - and United fan - Christy Pym said it all.
It was Pym who stood toe-to-toe (or glove-to-glove) with under-pressure Andre Onana for the most enthralling, drawn-out and emotional penalty shootout. The goalkeeping problem is a huge one for Amorim and United right now - with suggestions on social media that Pym should be signed by Ineos before September 1 providing a nice, light-hearted undertone.
But the club Pym supports are beyond half-fuming.
Onana, a mis-firing £200million strike-force and the lack of a proper defensive midfielder are just three - of many - on-field issues for Amorim to solve. That's nothing new, but the most alarming thing on Wednesday night was just how "easily" he was bested by his opposite number in the dugout.
David Artell, a former Football League and Gibraltar international defender, is a hugely respected lower-division manager in his own right, having inspired Crewe Alexandra to League Two promotion in the Covid-hit 2019/2020 season and worked wonders with this plucky, expansive, brave and organised Grimsby side.
By contrast, Amorim was seen frantically updating his tactics board in-game, but his pre-match plan and - maybe to a lesser extent - his tweaks throughout the 90 minutes were overshadowed by a Premier League-performance by Grimsby's Artell.
Even his demeanour on the touchline - from kicking and heading every ball from his technical area to his relaxed and measured approach to the pressure cooker of a penalty shootout - saw him outclass Amorim in arguably the biggest game of his managerial career.
Artell, articulate as he is passionate, spoke glowingly of Amorim in his own memorable post-match interview; the words that he had for the Portuguese - and United - were genuine, respectful and classy. United supporters were (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) clamouring for Pym between the posts instead of Onana - they might have been wiser to call for Artell instead!
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