Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
After his team's pre-season victory over Bournemouth in July, Ruben Amorim told the reporters that Manchester United would look like a different team compared to last season. While his players haven't backed their manager's confident words with two mediocre and familiar performances to start the 2025-26 season, United will look like a totally different team in terms of personnel in the League Cup clash against League Two side Grimsby.
The optimism of United fans following three quality signings and a decent pre-season has vanished in thin air following a winless start to the season. While there were a few positives in the season-opening 0-1 defeat against Arsenal, the 1-1 draw at Fulham brought back grim memories of a disastrous 15th-placed Premier League finish last campaign, which ended in the worst possible manner with a Europa League final loss against Tottenham.
With no European football this season, United are missing out on a big chunk of money, but the lack of games frees up time for the club to prepare and develop as a team in the Premier League.
United are not featuring in Europe for only the second time since English clubs returned to UEFA competition after a five-year ban in 1990, and Amorim feels the time he will have with his team in the midweek will be crucial in the team's developement.
"We were not prepared to play in Europe and the Premier League," he said in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"We need time to develop as a team."
Amorim raised eyebrows with his selection and tactical switches with several surprise exclusions like Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee and Harry Maguire in the first two games. Against Grimsby, who will be facing Man United for the first time since 1948, he has the opportunity to rotate his squad.
"Yes. We have three games this week and we have quality players and we need to do rotation to try to win every game," he said.
Rasmus Hojlund's future at Old Trafford looks uncertain after the Danish striker was excluded from both Matchday squads. When asked about the young player's availability for Wednesday's match, Amorim chose to keep the cards close to his chest.
All the players are available, then we make the choice to try to get the best starting XI to win every game."
While a second-round League club clash against a fourth division side should be a straightforward one, the unconvincing performances by the six-time League Cup winners in the first two games of the season make this a nervy affair at Blundell Park for the travelling United fans.
Moreover, United have horror memories of their previous entry into round two of the competition, which ended in a big embarrassment with a 4-0 defeat at then League One MK Dons.
There is nothing to choose between the two sides in the overall head-to-head record with 16 wins for United, 15 wins for Grimsby and six draws.
The clash against Grimsby will be more than just a football fixture for United in the context of their current state of affairs. For a team that is desperate for a positive result and goals and a manager who has accumulated 28 points in 29 PL games, a convincing win, even against a League Two side in a second-round match, can act as a magic potion for Amorim's beleaguered Red Devils.
