Manchester United's senior players believe their Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town was even worse than the 7-0 hammering by Liverpool and spells more trouble for their wretched goalkeeping situation
10:45, 29 Aug 2025Updated 11:04, 29 Aug 2025
GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Andre Onana of Manchester United reacts during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Andre Onana is facing a confidence crisis at Manchester United(Image: George Wood, Getty Images)
Manchester United players are viewing the embarrassing League Cup defeat to Grimsby Town as a new low point, with faith in their first and second-choice goalkeepers waning.
Insiders from the dressing room reveal that the seasoned members of the United squad see the 2-2 draw and subsequent 12-11 penalty shootout loss to Grimsby as their worst result yet.
Despite suffering 5-0 and 7-0 home and away defeats to Liverpool in the last four years, and seven 4-0 thrashings since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, the players admit that being knocked out by League Two Grimsby marks a new low.
Senior stars are also said to be growing "uneasy" about the club's goalkeeping situation. Altay Bayindir made a costly mistake in United's opening Premier League loss to Arsenal, while Andre Onana was at fault for both of Grimsby's goals.
Onana made his first appearance since the Europa League final at Blundell Park, where he was beaten at his near post by Charles Vernam and failed to secure a corner that was scrambled in by Tyrell Warren.
GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Andre Onana of Manchester United reacts after failing to save a penalty from Darragh Burns (not pictured) of Grimsby Town during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park on August 27, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Pressure continues to mount on Andre Onana(Image: George Wood, Getty Images)
The 29-year-old managed one save in the penalty shootout but got his glove to five other penalties that still went past him, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Bayindir let in a goal from Arsenal left back Riccardo Calafiori from a corner and was targeted from set pieces in the 1-1 draw with Fulham a week later. Third-choice keeper, Tom Heaton, hasn't played since February 2023 but is fully fit.
Onana could find himself relegated to the bench for the Premier League clash with Burnley, as his status as first-choice keeper is in doubt and his future remains uncertain.
Manchester United players dejected against Grimsby
Manchester United's stars are in agreement over the Grimsby humiliation(Image: Paul Currie/Shutterstock)
United have been in talks about potentially signing Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but Onana is keen to stay at the club.
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A perplexed Ruben Amorim was hesitant to discuss Onana's goalkeeping at length. "It's not about Andre. We are here with all due respect. I already said that the best team won. But this is a fourth division team. Andre should play just with his feet during this game? It's not that that happened.
"It's not the goalkeeper. It's more than that. He's everybody. Thank you guys."