Manchester United faces a clouded future under Ruben Amorim’s reign. Can the Portuguese coach revive the Red Devils, or will Old Trafford sink deeper into crisis?
Manchester United Fall to Grimsby Town in Carabao Cup Shootout as Sesko and Onana Struggle, Leaving Amorim Facing a Crisis
Manchester United have suffered a major shock after being eliminated from the Carabao Cup second round, losing to Grimsby Town in a dramatic penalty shootout that ended 11-12. The match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, but the real blow came in the shootout, where United’s players failed to overcome a League Two side.
This was one of Manchester United’s most humiliating defeats, not only because they lost to a lower-league opponent but also due to their players’ poor performances. After a costly transfer window and with a squad valued at £400 million, fans had high expectations of Ruben Amorim and his new signings, particularly Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo. However, they once again looked inconsistent and far from the standard of an elite club.
The clash with Grimsby Town was a nightmare outing for goalkeeper Andre Onana, who conceded two first-half goals. One of those came after a shocking misjudgment, allowing the ball to slip through him and leading to Grimsby’s second goal.
Meanwhile, £70 million signing Benjamin Sesko failed to make any meaningful impact. He registered only two shots on target and lost 10 out of 12 duels, raising serious questions about his adaptation to the Premier League.
Although United managed to equalize through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire, inconsistency remained their biggest issue. Even with the introduction of key players like Bruno Fernandes, Matthijs de Ligt, and Mbeumo in the second half, Manchester United could not dominate a League Two side. When the game went to penalties, Amorim’s team collapsed once again. To make matters worse, Mbeumo — one of the club’s marquee summer signings — missed a crucial spot-kick, handing Grimsby Town a historic victory.
The truth is, Grimsby fully deserved their win. They defended with discipline and showed far more confidence than a United side stacked with expensive stars but lacking resilience. The sight of a squad worth hundreds of millions being outplayed by Grimsby’s relatively unknown players will undoubtedly leave Ruben Amorim and the fans bitterly disappointed.
Now the big question looms: where do Manchester United go from here? Following this defeat, the players’ confidence — especially that of the new signings like Sesko — is likely to take a heavy hit. United will need major improvements in both form and cohesion if they are to avoid sinking deeper into crisis.