Amorim apologizes after Grimsby debacle

GRIMSBY, England — Ruben Amorim apologized to Manchester United supporters after his reign reached a new low with a humiliating elimination from the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby Town on Wednesday.

United appeared to have got out of jail at Blundell Park when Harry Maguire's 89th-minute header made it 2-2 after it had trailed 2-0 following a woeful first-half display.

But a marathon penalty shootout ended 12-11 in Grimsby's favor after new signing Bryan Mbeumo, who had begun United's fightback, saw his spotkick bounce back off the crossbar.

Grimsby was deserved winner, outplaying its illustrious guest at times and seeming more up for the fight.

Amorim cryptically said the players "spoke really loud today about what they want" — apparently suggesting they did not fancy the challenge against the League Two team.

When asked to explain what went wrong, a worryingly familiar question since he took charge last season, the Portuguese did not hold back. "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.

"I felt my players spoke really loud today about what they want. I think it's easy for you (how to interpret it).Let's focus on the next game, and then we have the break 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 only realistic hope of winning a trophy this season now rests 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, whose side has picked up one point from its opening two Premier League games, told reporters.

"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.

"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."

Goalkeeper Andre Onana made a dismal return to the team and was culpable for both of Grimsby's goals, as he was beaten at his near post for its opener and then failed to claim a cross that was converted by former United academy player Tyrell Warren.

"It's not about Andre," Amorim said. "With all due respect, I already said that the best team won, but this is a fourth division team. It's not the goalkeeper. It's more than that."

Jubilant Grimsby

It will go down as one of the most embarrassing results in United's history and leaves the team winless in three games so far this campaign, after a woeful 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Grimsby's jubilant fans stormed onto the field to celebrate with the players after Mbeumo's spotkick rebounded off the crossbar to seal United's fate.

"It's an amazing feeling, one that will live on forever," said Grimsby's Charles Vernam, who scored one of the team's goals.

The Mariners currently sit fourth in League Two, and finished the match with a lineup containing several academy graduates and a Faeroe Islands international.

United, meanwhile, had 200 million pounds ($270 million) worth of new signings just in its attack in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. Cunha also failed in the shootout, seeing his weak attempt saved, and Sesko took United's 10th penalty — only one ahead of Onana.

After Onana and Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym converted their penalties, the shootout reverted to the outfield players once again. Bruno Fernandes scored his for United, but Mbeumo couldn't.

"Going into the penalty shootout, the gaffer (manager) said to us: 'Lads, all the pressure is on them,' and it was really," Grimsby midfielder Kieran Green said.

It was bittersweet for Pym, who said with a smile: "I'm a Man United fan, so I'm half-fuming a little bit."

The result piles more pressure on Amorim, who came into the game with 16 wins from his 44 matches in charge of United after being hired in November. He sat in the dugout during the shootout, not even watching the spotkicks.

A 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the opening round of the Premier League featured an encouraging performance by a new-look United team, but some worrying old habits returned when fading to a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.

Agencies