Manchester United Faces Risk of Reliving Van Gaal Era Disgrace in League Cup!

Footem.in – Manchester United is in danger of repeating past mistakes in the League Cup, similar to the situation faced by Louis van Gaal eleven years ago as they prepare to take on Grimsby Town in search of their first win this season.

Poor Start for Manchester United

The team led by Ruben Amorim has not recorded a victory in the 2025/26 season. The opening match against Arsenal was anticipated to be tough, and despite a decent performance, they lost 1-0 at Old Trafford to Mikel Arteta’s side, a team they could only draw with last season.

A subsequent 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage raised even more concerns, although that stadium has always been a challenging venue for United.

Now, United faces two crucial matches that they cannot afford to lose: against Grimsby Town and Burnley. Many are demanding a convincing win, but at this stage, any three points will be deemed valuable.

Echoes of Van Gaal’s Embarrassment

Amorim’s current situation mirrors what Louis van Gaal experienced eleven years ago when United also began the season without a win in their first two matches—losing one and drawing another—before facing MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup.

Van Gaal fielded a heavily rotated team, including players like Anderson, Shinji Kagawa, Will Keane, and Nick Powell. Just like now, that season, United also failed to qualify for European competitions, necessitating their early participation in the League Cup.

The outcome was one of the club’s most humiliating nights, with Will Grigg and Benik Afobe scoring to hand United a heavy 0-4 defeat in front of 26,969 fans.

Ironically, on the same day, United announced the signing of marquee player Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for a then-record transfer fee in England—a signing that ultimately symbolized the club’s ongoing transfer struggles.

Amorim’s Mission to Avoid Disaster

Now, Ruben Amorim is determined to ensure his team does not repeat past mistakes. The match against Grimsby should be the perfect opportunity for United to kickstart their revival.

Benjamin Sesko is set to make his first start, aiming to score his first goal for the club.

However, United’s recent history makes it clear that nothing is easy. Concerns remain that they could face the embarrassment of an early exit from the League Cup at the hands of a lower-division team.