Amorim gives reason why Carabao Cup clash with Grimsby can help Man Utd players

Manchester United will begin their 2025/26 Carabao Cup campaign with a trip to League Two side Grimsby Town, after the draw for the second round paired the clubs in a classic David versus Goliath clash.

The tie, scheduled for the week commencing August 25, will be United’s earliest entry into the competition in over a decade, owing to their absence from European football this season.

For manager Ruben Amorim, it offers both an opportunity and a challenge—balancing squad rotation with the need to avoid a potential cup upset.

Grimsby, who have enjoyed a steady start to their League Two campaign, will see the fixture as one of the biggest nights in their recent history.

The Mariners reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as recently as 2023, famously knocking out Southampton along the way, and will be eager to add another scalp to their giant-killing record.

United, who last lifted the Carabao Cup in 2023 under Erik ten Hag, will be aiming to re-establish themselves as a domestic cup force after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.

Amorim is expected to use the tie to give minutes to fringe players and academy graduates, while also introducing new signings such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to competitive action in a rotated lineup.

Speaking after the draw, Amorim said: “These matches are important for building rhythm and giving opportunities. Grimsby will be motivated, their fans will make it a big night, and we have to match that intensity.”

United’s fans will remember similar fixtures in the club’s history where lower-league opposition provided stubborn resistance, reported TalkSPORT.

The team’s focus will be on avoiding complacency and ensuring safe passage to the third round, where Premier League heavyweights typically begin to clash.

For Grimsby supporters, the visit of Manchester United to Blundell Park is a once-in-a-generation occasion—tickets are expected to sell out instantly, and the atmosphere promises to be electric.

For United, it’s the first step on a path that they hope will lead to a Wembley final and a chance to secure silverware early in the Amorim era.