Ruben Amorim apologizes after Manchester United's shocking defeat to Grimsby Town

In England, Manchester United faced a disappointing defeat against Grimsby Town, a club three divisions below in the football hierarchy, during the League Cup on August 26, 2025. The match was held at Grimsby’s Blundell Park and ended in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after regulation time. Manchester United scored two late goals that temporarily leveled the match, giving them hope, but ultimately, they fell short in the penalties, losing 12-11. The defeat has cast a shadow over the club's already challenging start to the season, as they had only collected one point from their opening two Premier League matches. Manchester United’s head coach Ruben Amorim expressed his deep disappointment in the post-match interviews, stating that the team appeared "completely lost" during the game and that he was unsure how to explain such a poor performance against a lower league side. Amorim accepted the match result, acknowledging that the better team won, and took responsibility for the lack of coherence in the team's performance. The loss was a significant blow to the fans and comes after the club's troubled previous season where they finished in a disappointing 15th place in the league. Both new signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, missed crucial penalties in the shootout, further highlighting the stark contrast in expectations versus performance during this critical stage of the tournament. United’s defender Diogo Dalot also weighed in, agreeing that the team needed to scrutinize their faults and improve quickly to regain faith from their fans. The club is under pressure to make significant changes with the summer transfer window still open, as Amorim hinted that there could be activity aimed at addressing the team's obvious shortcomings. Despite Amorim's efforts to maintain a distinct playing style since he joined the club partway through last season, the mixed results seem to be reducing the patience of fans, who witnessed brief signs of improvement but are still left questioning their club’s direction. The manager reiterated that the focal point of his efforts needs to change, and that results must reflect hard work and strategic planning. With a Premier League game against newly-promoted Burnley looming, there’s a sense of urgency for Manchester United to regain their form and restore some faith within their supporter base.