What next for Man Utd and Amorim after humiliation at Grimsby?

 

Manchester United’s defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby in the Carabao Cup has left the club reeling. The image of manager Ruben Amorim crouching nervously during the penalty shootout summed up the mood.

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For a club of United’s stature, losing to such opposition is viewed as unacceptable, especially after a disastrous Premier League campaign that ended in 15th place.

The responsibility now falls on minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, who handpicked Amorim after dismissing Erik ten Hag only months after awarding him a new contract.

Their summer backing of Amorim with £200m for new attacking talent was supposed to trigger a revival, but instead the team’s weaknesses remain glaring.

Amorim has insisted on using the system that brought him success in Portugal, built around three central defenders, wing backs and two advanced playmakers. While this worked at Sporting Lisbon, the Premier League has proved far less forgiving.

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United’s current squad appears unsuited to the formation. Wingers like Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford have been frozen out, while young talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are unsettled.

Garnacho is in talks with Chelsea and Mainoo feels marginalised to the point of considering a move away from his boyhood club. Critics argue Amorim is sacrificing players’ futures for his rigid tactics, undermining squad morale and long-term stability.

His own admission of not ful ly understanding his team’s collapse at Grimsby only raises further doubts about his ability to lead.

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