Amorim Admits Manchester United Were “Completely Lost” in Carabao Cup Shock Defeat

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim admitted his team were “completely lost” as they suffered a stunning Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby after a marathon penalty shootout at Blundell Park.

The match will go down as one of the most embarrassing defeats in United’s history. Grimsby raced into a 2-0 lead within the first half-hour and could have been further ahead before United showed late signs of life. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire scored to drag the visitors level, forcing the tie to penalties.

In the shootout, Matheus Cunha had the chance to seal victory but missed with the final kick of the initial five. What followed was a nerve-shredding exchange where every player scored until Mbeumo struck the crossbar, handing Grimsby a famous 12-11 win.

Amorim, visibly frustrated, offered a blunt assessment:
“The way we started the game without any intensity, we were completely lost. Tonight, the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch. Something has to change, and it was very clear what happened. I can only apologise to our fans.”

The Portuguese coach, who replaced Erik ten Hag last season, has struggled to turn around the club’s fortunes. United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, their lowest position since 1974, and this result ends one of their most realistic hopes of silverware this year.

Despite making eight changes, Amorim still fielded a team full of international stars worth hundreds of millions of pounds, including Benjamin Sesko, who made his first start since a £74m move from RB Leipzig. Goalkeeper Andre Onana also endured a night to forget on his return.

United’s struggles raise serious questions about Amorim’s future. His current win rate in the Premier League stands at 24.1%, matching Neil Warnock, who suffered relegation twice. With a crucial league clash against Burnley looming this weekend, pressure on the United manager is only intensifying.

Amorim, however, insisted he would focus on the next challenge:
“I’m the manager, it’s my job to understand what happened. Right now, we need to think about the weekend. I’m really sorry for our fans. Let’s move forward.”

The defeat leaves supporters worried that optimism built over the summer transfer window is already fading, and patience is running thin as United search for answers.