Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night by Grimsby Town on penalties.
It was arguably the worst night in the club’s recent memory, with an unprecedented defeat against League Two opposition.
It was an embarrassing night for Manchester United despite the half hearted comeback from behind which saw Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire score to extend the nightmare into penalties.
During the shootout, United and Grimsby took 13 penalties each, with Andre Onana unable to save more than one effort despite getting his hand to half of the opposition’s efforts.
In the end it was Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo who missed and led to United’s exit with the Cameroon international hitting the bar.
However, Ruben Amorim wasn’t even able to watch his team’s penalty shootout, as he sat with head in his hands, later explaining it didn’t matter because he had seen everything he needed to.
But there is another big criticism from the shootout.
Ruben Amorim sits back on Manchester United's bench
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Benjamin Sesko penalty decision explained
United should absolutely have won the game, creating enough chances to win it twice over, but the truth remains that they didn’t.
This forward line of Mbeumo and Cunha was pivotal in the shoot-out defeat as the pair, while £66m summer signing Benjamin Sesko scored his penalty, but has been criticised for different reasons.
Sesko took United’s 10th penalty with both centre-backs before him, which is bizarre for a striker, and the Daily Mail’s chief sports writer Oliver Holt couldn’t believe it.
“Most damning thing of all about Manchester United’s exit: the club’s new centre forward afraid to take responsibility for a penalty. Says everything about the culture of fear and weakness at Old Trafford.”
However, this decision has since been explained by Simon Stone from the BBC. The journalist took to X, stating that the reason Sesko was the final outfield player to take a penalty was due to the striker having cramp.
This should put an end to all the speculation and name calling toward Sesko from certain figures.
Benjamin Sesko needs a goal against Burnley
We might only be on page one of Benjamin Sesko’s career for Manchester United, but already frustrations are building as the 6ft 5in striker offered so little against Grimsby.
He was left isolated for much of the game, chasing shadows effectively and being physically dominated by fourth tier defenders.
Sesko can learn from this and kick on using his growing experience. Impressively was that Sesko took his penalty so well, with such composure at a high pressure moment and with cramp.
He needs his teammates to create chances for him, but Sesko needs a goal against Burnley to silence the early discussions around him.