Grimsby Town’s owner has poked fun at Manchester United’s Carabao Cup humiliation, revealing the club asked for a manager’s changing room before being dumped out by League Two side.
Jason Stockwood said United’s staff had sent over a list of requests ahead of the second round tie, a night that ended in disaster for Ruben Amorim’s side as they were beaten on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Blundell Park.
‘I’ll tell you one funny quick thing,’ Stockwood told The Athletic. ‘With Manchester United coming to town, they sent us almost a rider for the manager and it was like, where’s the manager’s changing room?
‘And I was like, f***ing hell, the manager’s changing room? For us, it is the back of his car.
‘The manager has a changing room at Man United? I thought that was quite amusing. They clearly didn’t know what they were coming into.’
Stockwood implied the monumental upset had been on the cards before a ball was kicked.
‘When the players came off the bus and onto the pitch, I stood around and the United players did not look like they were up for it,’ he added. ‘It was all the cliches.’
What followed was one of United’s most embarrassing nights in their recent years.
Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren both struck in the first half, with Andre Onana at fault for both goals, before Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire forced penalties with late equalisers.
The shootout dragged on until the 26th spot kick, with Grimsby keeper Christy Pym saving from Matheus Cunha before Mbeumo smashed the bar to confirm the upset.
United’s £400million squad had been outplayed and outfought by a team sitting 61 places below them in the football pyramid.
Amorim apologised afterwards, admitting ‘the best team won’ and bemoaning his players’ lack of intensity. The Portuguese manager’s position is under fresh scrutiny after a winless start to the season.
Adding to the ridicule, Amorim was mocked for fiddling with magnets on his tactics board while his side trailed 2-0, and for refusing to watch the penalty shootout from the touchline.
United’s players reported back to Carrington on Thursday morning, but the mood remained grim with more questions being asked about the direction of the club under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
For Grimsby, meanwhile, it was a famous night to rival any in their history. Pym admitted he was ‘half fuming’ to knock out the club he supports but called it ‘beautiful’ to be part of.
Stockwood’s comments added another layer of embarrassment for United, whose defeat at Blundell Park goes down as one of the most humiliating cup exits in their history.
