Whatever optimism Manchester United carried into the new season has vanished before August is even over. Manager Ruben Amorim is once again under intense pressure after a disastrous start that has reignited familiar frustrations among fans and critics alike.
United have taken just one point from their first two Premier League matches. Since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag, he’s picked up only 28 points in 29 league games — a damning return for a club of United’s stature.
A narrow 1-0 home loss to Arsenal followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham might have been survivable. But Wednesday night’s penalty shootout defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in the second round of the League Cup marked a new low under Amorim.
With United out of European competition for just the second time in 35 years, domestic trophies were among the few realistic goals this season. That made Amorim’s decision to rest eight regular starters at Blundell Park all the more surprising.
Still, the starting XI included high-profile signings: Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, who cost a combined £130 million. After a woeful first half that saw United trail 2–0, Amorim brought on £65 million man Bryan Mbeumo and captain Bruno Fernandes in a desperate attempt to rescue the match.
United fought back to 2–2, but in the penalty shootout, Cunha squandered a chance to seal victory with the fifth kick. Mbeumo then missed his attempt, and Grimsby took full advantage, sending United crashing out.
The sight of Amorim alone in the dugout during the shootout summed up the mood. His post-match comments were cryptic but pointed:
“I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change. I think the team and the players spoke really loud today.”
Amorim was hired last November after United’s board pushed through a mid-season move, urging him to leave Sporting CP immediately rather than wait until summer. He began his tenure with a draw against Ipswich, but United ultimately finished 15th — their worst league finish since 1974 — with just 42 points.
They also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, who narrowly avoided relegation.
Now, Amorim’s win rate at United sits at just 35.6% across all competitions, and an even more troubling 24.1% in the Premier League — numbers that may soon test the board’s patience again.
