Wayne Rooney has identified one all-important factor that could explain why Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town.
Manchester United were dealt the first major blow for their bid to secure silverware in the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford after a humiliating result on Wednesday.
Grimsby Town hosted United at Blundell Park for the second round of the Carabao Cup and the club punched their ticket to the third round of the competition.
The League Two outfit caused a stunning upset on Wednesday evening, with Grimsby beating United 12-11 on penalties in front of the Blundell Park faithful.
Grimsby dominated United in the opening stages of the Carabao match, with David Artell’s men taking the lead through attacker Charles Vernam in the 22nd minute.
Charles Vernam’s opener would open the door for Grimsby to double their advantage only eight minutes later, with Tyrell Warren netting against United in the first half.
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Bruno Fernandes looks dejected during the penalty shootout during the Carabao Cup match between Grimsby Town and Manchester United at Blundell Park in 2025 in Grimsby, England.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney pinpoints one key reason why Man Utd lost to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup at Blundell Park
Manchester United were able to force Wednesday’s humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to penalties after Ruben Amorim watched his men mount a second-half comeback.
Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo came off the bench after the break and the former Brentford ace pulled United into the contest after he found the back of the net.
Harry Maguire was able to find the vital equaliser in regular playing time after the England international connected with a Mason Mount cross and turned in a header.
Wayne Rooney has now suggested that all of United’s players “weren’t trying” in the match and added they might have played down their opposition ahead of the match.
“I don’t think the players weren’t trying,” he said on The Wayne Rooney Show, as per BBC Sport.
“Maybe they were a bit complacent. Maybe they’ve gone there thinking it’s a League Two team.
“You think, we’ll just turn up and win the game. That can happen. And then before you know it, the game’s gone away from you. So, it happens.
“It’ll happen again, probably in the next round to someone else. But just where United are at the minute, it’s hard to take, really.”
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Wayne Rooney speaks out on Ruben Amorim after the Man Utd manager’s tough start to the new season
Ruben Amorim pulled no punches after United crashed out of the Carabao Cup and the 40-year-old even took aim at his players for their overall performance.
Rooney has admitted that the United manager looked like he had hit his “breaking point” after the Red Devils lost to Grimsby on penalties in the second-round tie.
“What we forget is he’s only 40. He’s a young manager,” he explained.
“Manchester United is so different to where he’s been before. You come in and there’s the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.
“There’s a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you’re not winning games, that can start to get [to you] and it looked like he was at a breaking point.”
Matheus Cunha’s effort from the penalty spot was saved during the shootout, while Bryan Mbeumo failed to convert his second spot-kick after scoring his first attempt.