Manchester United faced a humiliating exit from the Carabao Cup after a dramatic 12-11 penalty shootout defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town. The monumental upset saw manager Ruben Amorim come under intense scrutiny, facing accusations of being a "coward" by fans and having his tactics heavily criticized by pundits and supporters alike.

The match at Blundell Park saw Grimsby establish a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Charles Vernam and former Manchester United academy product Tyrell Warren, whose strike was aided by a goalkeeping error from Andre Onana. This early deficit led to widespread fan fury, with chants of "Sacked in the morning" directed at Amorim. United, however, mounted a late comeback in the second half. Bryan Mbeumo scored the first goal for United, followed by a crucial late equaliser from Harry Maguire, forcing the game into an extended penalty shootout.

The 18-minute penalty marathon saw both teams remain almost flawless until the decisive moments. Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym, who revealed he was a Manchester United fan, made a save against Matheus Cunha. However, it was Bryan Mbeumo, a £71 million summer arrival, who missed the crucial second penalty for United, hitting the crossbar and sealing Grimsby's historic victory. Pym admitted to being "half-fuming" despite his heroics for Grimsby.

Ruben Amorim's conduct throughout the match and his post-game comments drew significant ire. He was ridiculed for appearing to experiment with tactics on his board while trailing 2-0 and later for seemingly "hiding" in the dugout during the penalty shootout. Post-match, a visibly agitated Amorim berated his own players, stating, "I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch" and that "the team and the players spoke really loud today." He also issued a grovelling apology to the fans, acknowledging the team's lack of intensity and performance, suggesting that "something has to change."

Pundits and former players were equally critical of Amorim's rigid tactical approach. Phil Jones and Jobi McAnuff lambasted his decision to deploy Mason Mount, a central midfielder, as a left wing-back within a back-five formation, even when chasing the game. They described it as "crazy" and "baffling," arguing that it left United without the necessary attacking overload. Danny Murphy also stated he would "hate" playing under Amorim's 3-4-3 system, claiming every United midfielder had regressed under his management.

The defeat intensified pressure on Amorim, whose managerial record at United now stands at just 17 wins from 45 outings and only seven Premier League victories since taking over in November last year. Speculation about his replacement immediately surfaced, with former England boss Gareth Southgate and ex-United star Michael Carrick listed as joint favourites. Other candidates mentioned include Oliver Glasner, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna, Zinedine Zidane, Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola, and Xavi Hernandez.

The individual performances of United's new £207 million attacking trio – Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo – were also heavily scrutinized. Sesko, the £74 million striker, had a poor full debut, missing several chances, leading Arsenal and Newcastle fans to declare "bullet dodged" after previously being linked with him. Bryan Mbeumo's penalty miss was particularly painful, though captain Bruno Fernandes was seen comforting his teammate, showing leadership amid the chaos.

Grimsby Town's victory was widely celebrated across the country, dubbed one of the biggest giant-killings in Carabao Cup history. The Mariners' social media team famously posted a picture of a banner declaring, "You've just been slapped by the fish," a post that went viral. The triumph earns Grimsby a third-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday. For Manchester United, the focus now shifts to their upcoming Premier League fixture against Burnley at Old Trafford, a match that could be pivotal for Amorim's increasingly precarious future.