Manchester United were hoping for a morale-boosting, comfortable win over League Two Grimsby Town on Wednesday. What they got instead was another dose of humiliation.
The team from England’s fourth tier were 2-0 up at halftime of the Carabao Cup second-round game, with both their goals coming from United errors, particularly from the hapless goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The most galling thing for United fans was that the scoreline was not remotely flattering: the Red Devils, the 20-time champions of England, were second best. As United eventually fell in a wild 13-round penalty shootout, Amorim’s damning words rang loud: “the best team won today.”
It means even greater scrutiny is now coming the way of head coach Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese, it was hoped, would get his team on the road to recovery this month after a full preseason and a lack of European commitments. Instead, things are looking as bad as ever.
So, how long will United’s decision-makers wait until they consider the latest managerial change?
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Will Man United sack Ruben Amorim?
There was certainly no suggestion that Amorim could be sacked any time soon prior to the game at Grimsby. The 1-0 loss to Arsenal saw United earn plaudits for their performance level, and while the 1-1 draw at Fulham was disappointing, it was hardly a significant set-back.
What transpired in stormy weather on England’s east coast could potentially change things.
United’s performance was abject, and although Amorim rested a few key players from the starting lineup, the team he fielded was experienced and expensively assembled. Captain Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount all came on as substitutes, too, with new signings Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha failing to convert penalties in the shootout.
Even accounting for Onana’s appalling mistakes, Amorim and his team had absolutely no excuses to turn in a performance like this.
“I just want to say sorry to our fans, I have nothing to say any more about the performance,” a flummoxed Amorim said after the game. “When everything is so important in our club, and you try to do everything, you come from the pre-season even Arsenal you can lose the game, you are improving, you see the performance, but then you reach this kind of game when everything is so important in our club and we start the game like this…I’m really sorry to our fans, I have nothing to say anymore.”
Whether the club’s hierarchy agrees remains to be seen. For now, Amorim is probably safe, but he will need to turn things around very, very quickly now.
Ruben Amorim’s post-match reaction.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2025
Could Ruben Amorim quit as Man United manager?
There is always the possibility that Amorim could decide to call time on his attempts to revive United.
Mark Ogden of ESPN reported the day before the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in May that the club’s hierarchy have felt the need to reassure Amorim that he is the best man for the job. Ogden said “there was no formal move by Amorim to quit,” but noted that the Portuguese “had to be reassured by senior figures at the club, including CEO Omar Berrada, that he would be backed to turn the team’s fortunes around.”
He repeatedly admitted that he felt “embarrassed” by United’s domestic form in 2024/25, saying that there was “something wrong” with the way they play in Premier League action.
There may come a point where personal pride means he no longer feels prepared to persist with the task at hand.
MORE: Ruben Amorim’s time at Man United has been terrible — it surely cannot go on like this
Amorim hinted greatly at a potential departure from the club after the Grimsby Town defeat.
“I think the players spoke really loudly about what they want today,” Amorim said cryptically. When asked to clarify that statement, he refused to expand, saying, “Guys, it’s really clear. I just want to apologise to our fans.”
Then, he uttered the phrase many have interpreted as a desire to step down. “Something has to change and you’re not going to change 22 players again.”
