Ruben Amorim 'sorry for our fans' as Manchester United suffer shock defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town

United eliminated from League Cup after marathon penalty shoot-out

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim after the League Cup defeat to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. Getty Images

Ruben Amorim apologised to Manchester United supporters after his team sunk to a new low with a humiliating elimination from the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby Town.

After a woeful first half United trailed 2-0 following goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren.

Bryan Mbeumo had sparked a late rally from the Red Devils with his first goal for the club before Harry Maguire's header forced penalties.

But a marathon penalty shoot-out ended 12-11 in Grimsby's favour. Matheus Cunha missed the chance to win the tie while new signing Mbeumo, who had started United's fightback, saw his spot kick bounce back off the crossbar.

Grimsby were deserved winners as they outplayed the Premier League giants at times and looked more up for the fight.

When asked to explain what went wrong, a worryingly familiar question since he took charge last season, Amorim spoke candidly.

“Everything. The way we started the game, we were not even here. When everything is so important in our club, everything that happened, it's a problem in our club, we should do so much better. I just have to say sorry to our fans,” the Portuguese said.

“I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want. I think it's easy for you [to interpret it]. Let's focus on the next game and then we have the stop for the international games. We will think things through.

“Doesn't matter [that we lost on penalties]. In the penalties, the feeling is the same. I think football was really fair today. The best team won.”

The League Cup exit means United's realistic hopes of winning a trophy this season now rest with the FA Cup.

“I'm the manager. It should be my job to understand what happened. Again, I'm really sorry for our fans. Let's focus on the next game. That is more than a result. That is the biggest problem in the team. I think it was really clear today,” Amorim said.

“I would like to say very smart things and very important things. I have nothing to say. Nothing to say. That is the biggest problem also. To see the same mistakes and nothing to say in this moment. I'm really sorry for our fans.

Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo after missing a decisive penalty in the League Cup match against Grimsby Town. Getty Images

“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. I think this is a little bit the limit.”

Amorim was already facing scrutiny after a winless start to United's Premier League season.

The 20-time English champions finished 15th last season in their worst league campaign since being relegated in 1974.

Now, one of their only two realistic shots at a trophy this season has disappeared in one of the worst results in the club's history.

Amorim made eight changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday, but still named a side that cost hundreds of millions of pounds, packed full of internationals.

Benjamin Sesko made his first United start after a £74 million move from RB Leipzig, while Andre Onana returned on a night to forget for the United goalkeeper.

Since being appointed, Amorim has taken 28 points from his first 29 Premier League games and steered United to their worst season in decades. He has been backed in the transfer window with some big-money signings, but on the evidence so far he is no closer to reversing the club's decline.