The humiliating moment of the Amorim dynasty at MU

Eliminated by Grimsby Town - a Fourth Division team - in the second round of the Carabao Cup in the early morning of August 28, the "Red Devils" sank deeper into crisis, exposing the harsh truth: the 200 million pound reconstruction project has not yet brought the club back to the winning track.

The Carabao Cup is never the ultimate measure of success, but for a club like Manchester United, elimination by League Two opposition is an undeniable sign of decline. The night at Blundell Park will be remembered as a legendary feat by the people of Grimsby, while for United it is a new chapter in the “temple of shame” alongside MK Dons, York City and Bournemouth.

What was even more haunting was the image of Ruben Amorim slumped in the technical area, avoiding eye contact, as his players stepped up to the penalty spot. It was not just a tactical failure, but also a collapse in leadership - something a club with a rich tradition like Man United needs more than ever.

An alarming resume

The statistics clearly show the extent of the crisis. Since Amorim arrived at Old Trafford:

Win rate in the Premier League is just 24.7% - the lowest in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Only won 7/29 matches in the number one tournament in England.
In the 2024/25 season, Man United won 42 points , the lowest in the club's Premier League history, scoring only 44 goals , less than even under David Moyes.
Finishing 15th , marked their worst position since 1974/75 when they were relegated.
Since the start of the 2024/25 season, only Genoa in Serie A have failed to score in the first half more times than Man United.
Amorim has been in charge of more Premier League games ( 29 ) than points won ( 28 ).

More sadly, when facing English clubs in the cup competition, Amorim only won against Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup, the rest were defeats against Tottenham, Fulham and most recently - Grimsby.

United cannot use the excuse of a lack of players. Last summer, Amorim was given £200m to buy three new attackers: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. But when it came to the penalty shootout in Grimsby, the two stars were the culprits - Cunha missed, Mbeumo missed the decisive spot kick.

The rigidity of Amorim's 3-4-2-1 philosophy pushed MU into the abyss.

The rigidity of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 philosophy was key. Man United rebuilt their personnel structure around this system, eliminating the role of traditional wingers. As a result, Jadon Sancho, Antony and even Marcus Rashford became “redundant”, their transfer value plummeted.

Even young talents once seen as the future of the club have been affected. Alejandro Garnacho has been pushed aside and is now on the verge of leaving Old Trafford for Chelsea. Kobbie Mainoo - a local hope - feels so abandoned that he is willing to leave if the right offer comes along.

If a system causes a young homegrown player to lose faith, the question must be asked: is it worth risking United's future?

While Amorim is mired in a fixed philosophy, his opponents have proven otherwise. In the second round of the Premier League, Marco Silva’s Fulham turned the tables on Man United with just a small adjustment in midfield. That flexibility is exactly what the “Red Devils” lack.

Amorim had success at Sporting, where he could develop young talent in a less demanding environment. But the Premier League is not Portugal. Here, rigid football philosophies are quickly broken, and that is what is happening at Man United.

The burden on the leader's shoulders

The blame does not lie solely with Amorim. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox were the ones who bet on him, instead of Dan Ashworth’s suggested Thomas Frank, Marco Silva or Graham Potter. They were also the ones who flew to Lisbon to convince Amorim that it was “now or never”.

The result after nearly a year? 17 wins in 45 games - a modest number compared to the rebuilding expectations.

Ruben Amorim's coaching position is shaky.

Patience at Old Trafford is never endless. And when the image of a manager bowing his head during a penalty shootout was broadcast worldwide, the reputation of the project plummeted.

Man United host Burnley this weekend - a game that is considered a "must win". But even a victory will not erase the shameful memories of Grimsby. Amorim's future is more uncertain than ever.

The question is not only how many chances he has left, but also: Will Man United dare to admit mistakes and change? If they continue to cling to a project that is cracking, the "Red Devils" risk being pushed deeper into the crisis.

A club that once stood at the top of Europe cannot afford to become the laughing stock of English football. But to escape that cycle, Man United need more than a young manager with a rigid philosophy. They need a clear vision, a decisiveness at the top and above all - someone with the courage to sit up straight in the fierce moments, not bow down and avoid them like the Grimsby night.

The defeat in Grimsby was not just a domestic cup “accident”, it was a symbol of crisis. With a win rate of less than 25%, 15th place in the Premier League, £200m squandered and a frustrated young talent, Amorim is on the brink. Amorim’s future – and the rebuilding project of Manchester United – will be decided not by promises, but by actions in the coming rounds.

Source: https://znews.vn/khoanh-khac-nhuc-nha-cua-trieu-dai-amorim-o-mu-post1580713.html