Manchester United

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There is a very real possibility that Ruben Amorim resigns as Manchester United head coach during the international break.

That is what I took away from his damning post-match comments after another of the worst defeats in the club's history at Grimsby Town.

He has overseen two of them in the space of four months, and many a supporter had already given up on him after United lost a final to Tottenham Hotspur in May.

A positive pre-season, which Amorim insisted he needed, raised the mood ahead of the new campaign, as did a £208m attacking overhaul.

But three games in, it feels like breaking point. For the first time since his exciting, yet ill-fated, arrival from Portugal, there is a sense that his supporters are now the minority.

Amorim desperately needs results, yet he is still failing to prove he can win football matches in England.

United's players "spoke loudly" in the Carabao Cup shock at Blundell Park, according to their manager. My translation: "They threw me under the bus and want something new."

He reportedly very nearly quit just months into the job last season. He then offered his resignation, without compensation, after the Europa League final disaster.

This time, it could be real. Amorim likely retains the support of Ineos, who have already sacked one manager since February 2024. But it's increasingly becoming a different story among the support.

Reports that he is ready to offload fan favourite academy product Kobbie Mainoo have not helped his cause at all.

The only way Amorim turns this around is through results - and I'm not sure they will ever arrive unless he changes his philosophy, something he has previously insisted he will live and die by.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was in Chicago that Ruben Amorim first said Kobbie Mainoo would be in competition with Bruno Fernandes this season.

Although he was also keen to stress both men could play in different positions, Amorim clearly feels the pair are best suited to the advanced midfield role in his system, which for Mainoo is a clear problem.

How realistic is it that he can oust the captain from the United side, at least in the short-term?

In truth, Mainoo is a victim of his own success.

The Stockport-born player emerged so quickly and came into a team struggling so often, he was almost a totem. Yet the fabulous end to the 2023-24 campaign masked positional deficiencies in Mainoo's game that were apparent as United's midfield was routinely overrun. At the Euros, he had Declan Rice covering him.

As last season began, Mainoo's confidence and form dipped, and he was injured when Erik ten Hag was sacked and Amorim took his place.

Mainoo was prominent in Amorim's starting line-ups from December onwards, but that meant he was involved in a string of damaging defeats. He was injured again in February and, by the time he returned, Amorim was targeting the Europa League - meaning his only starts to the end of the season were in the Premier League. Three of those games were lost, the other, at Bournemouth, was a draw.

It was against that backdrop Amorim made his summer call on Mainoo.

He feels the competition for places will help his side and that the midfielder, who he says boasts quick feet, an excellent passing range and invaluable speed in tight spaces, will benefit.

Evidently, Mainoo feels the evidence of the opening two Premier League games only points to extended spells on the sidelines, frustration and stunted progress.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney says Ruben Amorim's comments after Tuesday's Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Grimsby shows there is "something broken" in the dressing room.

"There's something not right," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "That's clear. The manager said so after the game.

"It can happen. We lost to Crawley years back in the cup. But, the difference is, everyone looking at that game knows it's a one-off.

"The issue now is we're seeing very similar performances, similar results and even though it's only three games into the season, it's getting to a point now where you're like: 'What is going on?'"

After the shock exit at Blundell Park, Amorim said United's players "spoke really loudly".

"The biggest concern is the manager saying that - his words after the game were damning on the players," Rooney added.

"If your manager comes out with those words there's something broken.

"We forget he's 40. He's a young manager. Manchester United is so different to where he's been before.

"There's a pressure at Manchester United which he will never have felt before. When you're not winning games it can start to get to you, and it looks like it was a breaking point for him.

"There's just a little bit too much rotation going on and players getting a little bit lost. When they lose the ball there's massive gaps and spaces and it's a carry on from last season. If it carries on like that, then unfortunately I don't see how it moves forward."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has asked to leave Old Trafford on loan.

United have rejected the request, telling Mainoo they value him and want him to stay and fight for his place.

It remains to be seen whether there are further conversations about the issue before the transfer deadline on Monday.

• Read more here

Chelsea have agreed a £40m fee to sign Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho.

The 21-year-old Argentina international was told to find a new club by head coach Ruben Amorim at the end of last season.

Sources from United say the initial Chelsea offer was £25m, but Garnacho's transfer - which includes a 10% sell-on clause - will now be the club's fourth largest ever sale after Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Angel di Maria.

• Read more here

The future of manager Ruben Amorim is a hot topic in Friday's papers.

The Daily Mirror claims he will hold key talks with the club's hierarchy after this weekends home fixture against Burnley.

Amorim's face and his job security features on the back of several papers.

Kobbie Mainoo has told Manchester United he wants to leave on loan in search of regular minutes but the club want the 20-year-old England midfielder to stay and fight for his place and will not sanction a move. (The Athletic), external

After losing Romelu Lukaku to injury, Italian champions Napoli are ready to sign Manchester United's 22-year-old forward Rasmus Hojlund on loan, with a verbal agreement already reached for the Denmark international. (Gianluca DiMarzio), external

Manchester United's 26-year-old Dutch left-back Tyrell Malacia is set to join Elche on a season-long loan after choosing the La Liga side over Lille. (Voetbal International), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

BBC Radio Manchester have assembled for an emergency episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast.

After Wednesday's League Cup defeat by Grimsby, the team ask if this is a new low for the club.

Reds fans Jay Motty, Kim Burdett and journalist Rich Fay discuss Manchester United ask where the club go from here.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what Ruben Amorim meant when he said: "I felt my players spoke really loud today" after the loss against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Ross: Pretty sure he meant they don't want to play for him. Or, that they don't have the character he wants.

James: He's saying the players have demonstrated they don't want to play for him. That they are failing to follow the system. I think he's coming from a place of false humility. He's saying 'I have tried with these players but they have decided not to play for me'. He pulled the trigger in my opinion. It felt like he was goading the players.

Lawrence: I think that's the problem in general, nobody knows what he means least of all the team or himself. I think he is the most inept manager we have ever had.

Nic: Perhaps he meant their actions spoke loudly to him. There is definitely something wrong whether it's the tactics, mentality or something else.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's defeat to Grimsby Town has made headlines around the world. The Red Devils are yet to win this season and head coach Ruben Amorim is under ever-increasing pressure, with last night's League Cup loss arguably the lowest point in his United reign.

Most United fans would have predicted a tricky night on the Lincolnshire coast but victory was also expected, with almost £200m spent on a new forward line this summer. A combined £130m started in the shape of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, with £65m Bryan Mbeumo appearing from the bench.

Amorim has by far the lowest win percentage of any permanent Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, with a return of 16 wins, 12 draws and 17 defeats from his 45 matches so far.

Even the much maligned Ralf Rangnick, who was in interim charge between December 2021 and May 2022, achieved a higher ratio of wins with 38%.

It seems strange to label a game as 'must-win' in late August, but Burnley at home on Saturday appears just that for Amorim and his side. Manchester United are unbeaten in their previous 23 Premier League meetings with promoted teams – if that run were to end this weekend it, might it prove fatal for the Portuguese coach's tenure at Old Trafford?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United fan Kim Burdett says "it is hard to know what to do next" because the club are stuck in the same cycle.

Questions over whether Ruben Amorim is the right man for the job have arisen again after their defeat to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, but Burdett doesn't think it is as simple as that.

"Amorim said 'the better players lost and the better team won,' and it is hard to argue against that," said Burdett on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "Grimsby thoroughly deserved their victory and I don't think anyone will disagree with that.

"We are in a constant conundrum because we have been through so many managers and so many players, but we seem to still be repeating the same patterns.

"If we change the manager then we are just back to square one again.

"But the players are obviously not doing what they should be for Amorim. He can't change all 22 players but we are stuck in this cycle of bringing in new players and nothing changes.

"It's hard to know what to do next.

"There's only a finite amount of managers out there, so how many do we have to go through until we find one that fits what we need?

"Ineos have come in and we have more of a structure at the club, which we have been crying out for, yet somehow it is still not quite working.

"What is the problem at the core of the club?"

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Manchester United's exit from the EFL Cup after losing to League Two's Grimsby Town in a penalty shootout.

Here are some of your comments:

Mick: I've been a United fan since mid 70s and even with the odd trophy before the successful Sir Alex period, I don't remember seeing such a shambles on the pitch. There seems such a disconnect between the players and so very little confidence. While it is admirable to stick to your principles, it is equally admirable to admit when something isn't working. Time for Amorim to wake up and smell the coffee!

Kevin: Embarrassing, I don't see how things will improve under Amorim. They can't play the system he wants so I'm afraid to say he needs to go. I'm not blaming the manager, I'm blaming the players. Something needs to change now.

Andrew: Amorim's obsession with his formation and total rigidity about it is totally non-viable in the Premier League. It has driven out several good players and is likely to make us lose Mainoo who has talent but doesn't fit the blueprint. I think he has to be sacked and soon although quite who to appoint in his place is another conundrum entirely.

Stuart: Dismal! Can't Amorim see that this system in English football doesn't work. He needs to go, the players aren't playing with smiles on their faces. They are down and out. One leader Harry Maguire, the only one with the United fight.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot says they were "clearly not good enough" in defeat to Grimsby and that players lost an "opportunity" to "show that we deserve to be here".

Dalot, the only player to face the media following the Carabao Cup final defeat to Grimsby Town, said: "I think we gave the game to them, clearly, straight away, exactly what they wanted. Win duels, second balls, set plays.

"We fought back, but I think that was the minimum that we could show to the fans that travelled for ourselves, for the club, but clearly not good enough.

"We cannot come here and expect that it's going to be easy, because we know already these competitions, these clubs.

"Credit also [to them] because they fought really hard and deserve to go through, but it shouldn't be enough for them to win against us because we should have shown much more."

In response to how United should have had enough quality to progress past fourth-tier opposition despite the challenging surroundings, he added: "Exactly.

"Not just the quality, but obviously the minimum standards that you ask in every game, the approach to the game.

"I think the best way for us to have respected Grimsby today was to come here and play 100 per cent. I think that's what we need to improve for the future.

"I don't want to go through the same sentence time and again. We just have to show (that) and we just lost one opportunity today to show that we deserve to be here."

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim's words in the aftermath of Manchester United's defeat at Grimsby have prompted some confusion.

"I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want," he said.

What do you think he means?

Tell us here

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim's biggest problem is that there are multiple issues to address at Manchester United.

Some directly relate to personnel and others have resurfaced around players being unable to carry out his tactics.

Andrew Onana's performance in goal only underlined why United have been looking at a deal for Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

The Cameroon international should have done better for both Grimsby goals and exhibited the same vulnerability in dealing with crosses that underscored Altay Bayindir's performances against Arsenal and Fulham.

"I don't know what Onana is doing," said former Manchester United forward Dion Dublin on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"For the second goal there is nothing at all, just a half-hearted attempt. I would be absolutely livid with my keeper doing that. I would expect to get smashed out of the way if my keeper is coming for a cross. But there was nothing at all."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Altay Bayindir looks a bag of nerves from crosses and Onana had his opportunity and there's lapses of concentration.

"I don't know if he thought he could rock up here tonight and it would be a breeze, but it was anything but. How can Ruben Amorim have faith in Onana after that performance?

"What an embarrassment for Manchester United. Where does Ruben Amorim go from here? The perception of him now. I don't think he gets over this."

On Sky Sports, former United defender Phil Jones and ex-Crystal Palace winger Jobi McAnuff criticised United's approach.

"How many times was the spare man Matthijs de Ligt in the build-up? With the greatest respect to him, you should have an attacking player joining in and getting into the box," said McAnuff.

"It just seems crazy that he [Amorim] is wedded to this formation at all costs, in any circumstances in a match that he is almost forcing people into positions no matter the state of the game. It is baffling that there is no flex at all."

Jones added: "When he [Amorim] changed and put Mason Mount in that position they still went with a back five. They were building with a back five against Grimsby who were sitting on the edge of their own box.

"[But] if he changes now it will be seen as a sign of weakness for sure."

Read more reaction and analysis from Manchester United's defeat here

Image source, Getty Images

"Humiliation on the banks of the Humber," said BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter Ian Dennis as Bryan Mbeumo rattled the crossbar.

Manchester United are not a club built to lose to fourth-tier opposition yet they were out-fought by Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.

"I found the first half pretty embarrassing as an ex-Manchester United player," said Dion Dublin on commentary.

Ruben Amorim made eight changes for the trip to the Lincolnshire, including Andre Onana starting in goal for the first time this season, but was forced into making changes when they were chasing the game at two goals down.

"Amorim makes the changes and I am expecting Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad and Matheus Cunha to be enough," added Dublin. "With the right application, if they had played the game one and two touch, at the right tempo, they might have got over the line.

"But they got out-fought."

Chris Sutton added: "If I was Ruben Amorim, there is not a prayer that I would have made eight changes.

"I would have played my strongest team, try to put the game to bed and then make changes. That was an error from him in my book.

"He will struggle to come back from this. The pressure this season is well and truly on now. If I'm him I am officially worried."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live summariser Chris Sutton summed up the predicament Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was in at half-time against Grimsby Town on Wednesday evening.

"If Grimsby Town win tonight, I honestly don't think Ruben Amorim can come back from this," Sutton said.

"This isn't knee-jerk, it's the perception of him, not just to lose but in the manner in which United have played in the first half too."

United had never previously lost to a fourth-tier side.

The only recent precedents were other defeats in this competition, to York in 1995 and MK Dons in 2014. Defeat at Southend in 2006 was similar in terms of the raucous old school stadium where it happened but the Essex side were actually in the Championship at the time.

None of those defeats came from quite such a gloomy place as this one. Amorim finished with his new-look £200m strikeforce on the pitch and paired Kobbie Mainoo with Bruno Fernandes in the midfield formation many United fans have been pleading for.

The spot-kick drama took away some of the edge of incredulity in the moment. But when the dust settles, major questions will be asked about where United are going.