Leverkusen rubbed salt into the Red Devils’ wound

Manchester United’s nightmare week worsened on Wednesday, as their EFL Cup journey ended in utter humiliation at the hands of Grimsby Town.

The fourth-division side sent United crashing out in the second round after a 2-2 draw was settled by penalties, dealing the Red Devils their first-ever defeat to League Two opposition in this competition.

Ruben Amorim couldn’t bear to watch the shootout, crouched down in his technical area as the drama played out. The loss not only marked United’s most embarrassing domestic cup exit since that infamous 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in 2014 but also ramped up the scrutiny on Amorim, who is still waiting for his first Premier League victory.

David who topples Goliaths – who are Grimsby Town?

As if the setback wasn’t painful enough, Bayer Leverkusen rubbed salt into the wound on social media. The Bundesliga side, now coached by United’s former manager Erik ten Hag, posted a savage message on X: "Just hoping we don't get Grimsby..."

Leverkusen themselves were handed far tougher European assignments, drawing Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Villarreal, Benfica, PSV, Olympiacos, Newcastle United, and Copenhagen in the Champions League group stage.

For United, there will be no continental football at all this season. After finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, they are absent from Europe for the first time since 2013-14 – and only the second time in the past 35 years.