Ruben Amorim admitted “something has to change” after Manchester United’s humiliating Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town, but insisted the solution could not be to “change 22 players again.”
United crashed out 12-11 on penalties after fighting back from 2-0 down in the final 15 minutes at Blundell Park.
The defeat continues a dismal start to the season under Amorim, who has yet to record a win in three matches despite a summer overhaul that brought in Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
“I am shocked because we are in a moment when we make a lot of changes,” Amorim told ITV. “We try to fight a lot of things but then when we have these moments, we need to show up. If we don’t show up, you can feel that something has to change—and you are not going to change 22 players again.”
Goalkeeper Andre Onana, making his first appearance of the season, was culpable for both Grimsby goals, letting Charles Vernan’s strike slip past him at his near post before flapping at a cross that Tyrell Warren converted.
But Amorim refused to pin the defeat solely on the Cameroonian.
“With all due respect, when you play against a fourth division team, it’s not the goalkeeper, it’s everything,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s the environment, it’s the way we face the competition. We know people will pay attention to every detail. My players spoke for me, really loud.”
The Portuguese coach was critical of his team’s lack of intensity from the start, drawing parallels with issues from last season.
“It doesn’t matter if we recovered or not. The best team won, the only team on the pitch. When you lose but you see something new, it’s different. When you see the same problems again, it’s hard to explain. I just want to say sorry to the fans.”
United, without European football this season, now face Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday as pressure mounts on Amorim to deliver his first victory.