MANCHESTER UNITED head coach Ruben Amorim berated his own players after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town.
The Red Devils found themselves 2-0 down at Blundell Park following goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren.
Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire both scored late in the match to draw level, but United went on to lose 12-11 on penalties following a dramatic shootout.
Amorim cut a frustrated figure throughout and did not hold back in his assessment of the match at full-time.
He told Sky Sports: “In the end, it doesn’t matter if we recover or not, it’s the signs the team gave during the game, the beginning of the game.
“I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch.
“The best players lose because one team can win against any group of players, and I think the team and the players spoke really loud today, so that’s it. We lost, the best team won.”
Asked what he meant by his comments, Amorim continued: “I think it’s really clear what they spoke, so let’s move on from this day and I think it was clear for everybody what happened today.
“The way we start the game without any intensity, all the idea of the pressure, we were completely lost and that’s why I think they spoke really loud.”
The Man Utd boss also issued a grovelling apology to fans.
He said: “When you lose but see something new, it’s different.
“When you see something like today, it’s hard to talk about that.
“I just want to say I’m really sorry for the fans. The support they gave me, with all the support they help the team. I have nothing to say. I’m really sorry.”
Grimsby will face Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Man Utd return to Premier League action on Saturday when they face Burnley at Old Trafford.
Asked what the most disappointing aspect of the performance had been, Amorim said: “Everything. The way we started the game we were not even here.
“When everything is so important in our club, everything that happened, it’s a problem in our club. We should do so much better, so I just have to say sorry to our fans.
“I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want.”
Pushed to elaborate on what he meant by that, Amorim added: “I think it’s easy for you (to understand).
“Let’s focus on the next game and then we have the stop for the international games. We will think things through.
“Doesn’t matter (that it went to penalties). In the penalties, the feeling is the same. I think football was really fair today. The best team won.”
Amorim looked agitated as he spoke by the dugout at Blundell Park, especially when asked if he could believe what he saw.
“No, but I’m the manager,” he said.
“It should be my job to understand what happened. Again, I’m really sorry for our fans. Let’s focus on the next game.”
Amorim continued to apologise throughout his post-match interview having seen United revert to last season’s horror show.
“More than a result, that is the biggest problem in the team,” he said. “I think it was really clear today.
“Guys, I would like to say very smart things and very important things. I have nothing to say. Nothing to say and that is the biggest problem also.
“To see the same mistakes and nothing to say in this moment. I’m really sorry for our fans. It’s too much sometimes.”
United return to action at home to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, when anything but victory will see the pressure ramp up hugely heading into the international break.
“No, you cannot change so much,” Amorim said with Monday’s transfer deadline looming large. “You cannot change everything in one summer.
“But you need to win games, you need to not show this kind of performance.
“I think this is a little bit the limit, so I think something has to change.”
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