Coach Ruben Amorim showed signs of distress during MU's penalty shootout

Manchester United's unexpected loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round is fueling widespread speculation about Ruben Amorim's tenure.

The match at Blundell Park began disastrously for Man Utd. The home team Grimsby started confidently and surprisingly took a 2-0 lead in the first half. Although Harry Maguire equalized in the final minute, the Red Devils still had to settle the outcome through a penalty shootout.

What drew attention was that at this critical moment, Coach Ruben Amorim chose to remain seated in the technical area instead of standing by the sidelines as usual. He almost avoided watching his players take the high-pressure penalty kicks, while the entire Man Utd coaching staff closely observed. Ultimately, the shootout extended to the 12th kick before Bryan Mbeumo’s shot hit the crossbar, sealing a bitter 11-12 loss for the Red Devils.

Several British media outlets described Amorim's behavior as a “clear sign” of the intense stress and pressure the 40-year-old manager is under. After spending over £200 million this summer to strengthen the squad, Man Utd were expected to start strongly. However, lackluster form and disappointing early results have severely shaken Amorim’s position at Old Trafford.

In the post-match press conference, Amorim stated that the penalty shootout result was less important than the team’s underperformance during most of the game. Nevertheless, experts believe losing to a lower-league side like Grimsby is a serious blow to his credibility and ambitions at Man Utd.

With an early exit from the Carabao Cup, the Red Devils now focus solely on the Premier League and FA Cup. But if the situation does not improve soon, Ruben Amorim risks becoming the next manager to lose his job at Old Trafford.