Manchester United's historic humiliation at Grimsby: Under-fire Amorim apologises to fans

Manchester United's Carabao Cup campaign ended in historic embarrassment last night as the Red Devils were dumped out by fourth-tier Grimsby Town in a dramatic penalty shootout, and head coach Ruben Amorim minced no words in his reaction. The Portuguese manager issued a contrite public apology, laid bare his grave misgivings over his team's mentality, and warned that something has to change at the club.

United's season reached a new nadir at Blundell Park, where they trailed 2-0 at halftime following goals from Charles Vernam and former United academy graduate Tyrell Warren. Despite late strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire to force penalties, United's hopes unraveled in a marathon shootout - Mbeumo's final attempt thudded off the crossbar, sealing Grimsby's 12-11 victory.

It was a night that will go down in United folklore for all the wrong reasons—the club's first-ever loss to a fourth-tier side in the competition's history and the defeat compounded a woeful start to the 2025-26 campaign, with United still waiting for their first win in three matches.

VISIBILY SHAKEN AMORIM

In the aftermath, Amorim appeared visibly shaken. He began with an apology that left little room for equivocation:

"I just want to say sorry to our fans, I have nothing to say anymore about the performance," Amorim said after the match.

"When everything is so important in our club and you try to do everything. You have come from pre-season, even Arsenal you lose the game but you are there, you are improving and you see the performance, but then reach this kind of game, when everything is so important in our club. And when you start a game like this I think my players are talking really loud about what they want, so I'm really sorry to our fans, I have nothing to say anymore," he added.

He admitted that what unfolded wasn't just a failure in defending or attack - "it's everything" - pointing not to a single player's collapse, but a collective breakdown

Amorim was even more brutal in his assessment during interviews. Frustrated by the team's lethargic start, he stated that "we were completely lost," insisting that the better team had simply prevailed.

However, he offered no quick fixes - only the recognition that the club must reflect and redistribute course during the upcoming international break.

"It's too much sometimes. You cannot change so much. You cannot change everything in one summer. You need to win games. You need to not show this kind of performance," he added.

"I think this is a little bit the limit."

On the subject of individual blame, the manager struck a curious tone. He refuted the notion that goalkeeper Andre Onana carried the blame, saying the issues extended far beyond any single position and permeated the entire environment at the club.

"It's not about Andre," Amorim said.

"With all due respect. I already said that the best team won. But this is a fourth division team. It's not the goalkeeper. It's more than that."

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON AMORIM

The result triggered a wave of outrage among fans and pundits alike. Supporters flooded social media with calls for Amorim's dismissal, labeling the loss a "cowardice" failure and questioning the Portuguese manager's capacity to lead at Old Trafford.

With United yet to register a win this season and pressure mounting rapidly, fans made clear: the honeymoon is already over.

For his part, Amorim refused to delve into specifics, stating that "something has to change, but you cannot change 22 players again"

As United prepare to return to Premier League action, the international break now presents a critical window. If results, and performances, do not improve, Ruben Amorim's tenure may teeter on the brink. Last season's 15th-place finish already left United reeling; this season, the collapse in morale seems increasingly perilous.