Manchester United fans were left seething after seeing what Ruben Amorim did during his side's humiliating Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out loss to League Two Grimsby Town.
Having failed to qualify for European football, the Red Devils were in action in the second round of the League Cup and found themselves 2-0 down at half-time to the Mariners after strikes from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren.
Amorim called upon captain Bruno Fernandes and Matthijs de Ligt at half-time and United fought back to 2-2 through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire.
The game at Blundell Park went all the way to penalties, where a total of 26 were taken in a crazy shoot-out.
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Matheus Cunha passed up the chance to win the tie when his effort was saved and after both sides continued to find the net, Mbeumo smashed his second spot-kick attempt against the crossbar to give the minnows a 12-11 victory on penalties and spark a wild pitch invasion.
The manner of the defeat piles further pressure on Amorim, who looked a shell of himself in the shoot-out.
Having looked away anytime Fulham had a corner on Sunday, cameras spotted Amorim sat on the bench - unable to watch any of the penalties.
Fans accused the Portuguese of lacking leadership qualities by "hiding" and ""cowering" and setting a bad example to his players.
One fan on X vented: "Fergie had his eyes glued in a champions league final penalty shootout, Amorim hid behind his staff because he couldnāt watch a penalty shootout in the 2nd round of the league cup against Grimbsy.
A second observed: "Amorim literally hiding during that penalty shootout."
A third wrote: "Ruben Amorim was hiding and covering his face from the cameras while his team was getting embarrassed by Grimsby Town on penalties. I have never seen anything like this ."
A furious fourth commented: "No Manager of Manchester United cowers away in the dugout during a penalty shootout. What vibes does that transmit to the players? It's a joke. A laughing stock and it's a crime. Sack Amorim tonight."
Amorim admits Man United deserved to lose
Amorim was dejected as can be in his post-match interview, admitting that the better team won and claiming his players "spoke really loud" and were "completely lost" when they started the game.
"I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch," Amorim told Sky Sports.
"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.
"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."
United look to finally get a win onboard when they host newly-promoted Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Topics:Ā Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, Carabao Cup
Josh Lawless