Today's news on August 29: The successor to Amorim revealed; The Red Devils get mocked

The stress on coach Ruben Amorim is increasing, Bayer Leverkusen references MU before the Champions League draw,... these are the key Manchester United updates on August 29.

Besiktas fires Solskjaer following shock exit in Conference League

Besiktas club officially announced the termination of coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's contract after a 0-1 loss to Lausanne-Sport, which led to the Turkish team being eliminated from the Conference League playoff round with an aggregate score of 1-2.

This was Solskjaer's first job since leaving Manchester United in 2021. Despite signing a 1.5-year contract worth £3 million, the Norwegian coach lasted less than a year.

Previously, Besiktas was also knocked out of the Europa League after a 2-6 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, increasing the pressure on Solskjaer. The loss to Lausanne was seen as the "last straw" as Besiktas missed many chances and suffered a setback after Felix Uduokhai’s red card. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji’s lone goal ended their hopes of advancing, concluding Solskjaer's brief tenure in Istanbul.

Coach Ruben Amorim shows signs of instability after defeat to Grimsby

The shocking 11-12 penalty shootout loss to Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup raised serious doubts about Ruben Amorim's future at MU.

Man Utd fell behind 2-0 to a fourth-tier team in the first half before Harry Maguire equalized in the final minutes. However, during the tense penalty shootout, Amorim sat still in the technical area, seemingly avoiding the crucial moment instead of standing close to the sideline as usual.

Several British newspapers interpreted this as a "clear sign" that the 40-year-old coach is under immense pressure. After spending over £200 million to strengthen the squad this summer, MU was expected to start strongly. However, disappointing results have put Amorim’s position at Old Trafford in serious jeopardy.

Gareth Southgate emerges as the top candidate to replace Amorim

Following the loss to Grimsby, MU’s management is reportedly considering replacing Ruben Amorim early in the season. The leading candidate currently is Gareth Southgate, former England manager, with odds of 5/1.

Although he once declared a desire to rest after the Euro 2024 disappointment, Southgate is highly valued for his experience managing large squads and his calm working style. Besides Southgate, Michael Carrick is also on the list, along with Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Mauricio Pochettino (USA national team), and Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town).

No official decision has been made yet, but pressure from fans and new owners makes an early managerial change at MU quite possible.

Bayer Leverkusen mocks MU before the Champions League draw

Ahead of the Champions League group stage draw, Bayer Leverkusen attracted attention by posting a picture of their draw ball with the caption:

“Just hoping not to face Grimsby...”

The post quickly went viral on social media as it referenced MU’s embarrassing loss to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. Many fans joked that “the only way to get noticed is by mentioning MU”, while others sarcastically said “Grimsby might have a better chance of facing Leverkusen in Europe than MU does”.

Currently, the pressure on Ruben Amorim continues to mount. MU will face Burnley in the Premier League this weekend, seen as the last chance for him to save his job.