The pressure is building on Ruben Amorim after Man Utd's shock defeat to Grimsby in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Ruben Amorim looks on at Blundell Park.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Just three games into the season, the positivity has evaporated at Manchester United.
United suffered a shock defeat to Grimsby Town on penalties in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday night, leading some fans to question Ruben Amorim's future at the club.
After his appointment in November, Amorim oversaw a dismal 2024/2025 season. Shocking results were supposed to be behind Amorim, but United reached a new low against Grimsby.
The inquest has begun and United will play Burnley in the Premier League this weekend before the international break begins. Amorim has just two days at Carrington to prepare for the game and we've taken a closer look at what United's head coach must do next to improve the situation.
Sign a new goalkeeper
Andre Onana was at fault for Grimsby's second goal, failing to connect with the cross into the box and leaving an open net at the mercy of Tyrell Warren. It was an awful mistake from another corner, and it was the ninth Onana error that led to a goal since the start of last season.
Altay Bayindir made a mistake of his own from a corner against Arsenal. The Turkish international swiped at the ball and was at fault for Riccardo Calafiori's winner on the opening day of the season.
United have two bad goalkeepers contending for starts and Amorim picked the lesser of two evils against Grimsby, recalling Onana to the starting team after benching him against Fulham.
Amorim has messed up the goalkeeping situation and wouldn't have helped Onana's confidence by preferring Bayindir to start the season. Having said that, Onana is responsible for his howler against Grimsby and it's obvious that United need to sign a new goalkeeper before the deadline.
United are in talks to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. Whether Lammens is ready to start in the Premier League remains to be seen, but he will at least provide solid competition.
Amorim needs a reliable goalkeeper and must be sick to his back teeth of amateur mistakes leading to goals.
Onana made another mistake against Grimsby.(Image: Senne Lammens)
Kobbie Mainoo must play
Did any player emerge with credit from a brutal first-half performance? Kobbie Mainoo made his first start of the season and was probably the pick of a bad bunch at Blundell Park.
There have been reports about Mainoo's future over the last few days because his contract situation has stalled and there are doubts about where he fits into Amorim's plans.
Mainoo was an unused substitute against Fulham and Arsenal. He misplaced a few passes against Grimsby, but most of his play was slick and Amorim must start the youngster in the midfield pivot to go forward.
Ugarte and Casemiro currently have no business starting for United. Amorim needs to give Mainoo a run of games alongside Fernandes because they will help United to gain control of games.
The centre of the pitch is a problem and Amorim cannot overlook a supremely talented midfielder for much longer.
Mainoo started against Grimsby.
Another midfield signing?
United could react to their disappointing start to the season by splashing the cash on a late midfield signing before the transfer deadline. They did the same in 2022 following bad defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
It would be logical to sign a defensive midfielder, someone with a similar profile to Ugarte and Casemiro. A potential new arrival could start alongside Mainoo and Fernandes could rotate in the No.10 roles.
That would mean either Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, or Matheus Cunha would miss out. Fernandes is considered a guaranteed starter and United have spent £127.5m on Mbeumo and Cunha this summer.
Win against Burnley
Amorim needs results and must go into the international break with a win against Burnley this weekend. Amorim would take any form of victory at Old Trafford, but a convincing display would help ease concerns.
If United scrape past Burnley, the conversation about his future will continue quietly throughout the break.
However, if United fail to claim three points, Amorim's future will dominate headlines.
After the break, United take on Manchester City in the Manchester derby and the worst will be feared at the Etihad if United go into the clash without a Premier League win to their name.