Manchester United supporters had been hoping for a fresh start this season, but what they have witnessed so far has done little to inspire belief.
New signings like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were brought in to add firepower, yet United remain winless and already out of the Carabao Cup.
Pressure is mounting on Ruben Amorim, who was brought in to steady the ship.
The mood around Old Trafford has darkened further with every passing week, and now it seems the players themselves are beginning to crack.
While defeats to the likes of Liverpool or Manchester City have become painful but predictable over the years, what happened in the League Cup at Blundell Park has left many inside the club shell-shocked.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the humiliation of being dumped out by League Two Grimsby Town has been described by senior figures in the dressing room as a “new low”, worse even than the infamous thrashings suffered against their fiercest rivals.
United drew 2-2 on the night before collapsing in a marathon 12-11 penalty shootout – an exit that has left players embarrassed and questioning the team’s direction.
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Confidence in the goalkeeping department is also said to be crumbling, as the Manchester Evening News reports.
Altay Bayindir’s blunder against Arsenal in the Premier League opener already raised eyebrows, but it was Andre Onana’s display at Grimsby that truly sent alarm bells ringing.
Andre Onana was beaten at his near post by Charles Vernam before failing to command his area for Tyrell Warren’s equaliser.
Even in the shootout, he got hands to five penalties but still conceded.
Bayindir has not fared much better, struggling under pressure from set pieces in the 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Third-choice keeper Tom Heaton is fully fit but remains frozen out, while United have already held discussions about a possible move for Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens.
Andre Onana, though, remains determined to fight for his place despite being at risk of losing the No.1 shirt.
