Manchester United legend Mourinho sends strong message to Manchester United coach concerning starting a flop player against Grimsby today
The storm following Manchester United’s shocking Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town has taken a dramatic twist after José Mourinho delivered a fiery warning to current manager Ruben Amorim. The former United boss, never one to mince words, has directly blamed goalkeeper Andre Onana for Erik ten Hag’s downfall — and insists history is about to repeat itself.
Mourinho, who watched Amorim field Onana yet again in the defeat, tore into the decision with a blunt message: “He got Erik ten Hag sacked and he’ll get you sacked as well. He’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. He ruined Ten Hag’s career and he will ruin yours too. Keep starting him and you won’t survive the season.”
Those scathing remarks have quickly spread among fans, many of whom already share Mourinho’s frustrations. Onana, brought in by Ten Hag from Inter Milan to transform United’s playing style, has instead been linked to a string of costly errors. From high-profile Champions League blunders to shaky league displays, his inability to deliver stability has now extended to a painful cup exit against Grimsby, ending in penalties after a 2-2 draw.
For Mourinho, this feels like déjà vu. Ten Hag stood by Onana until the very end and was eventually dismissed, and now Amorim finds himself at the same crossroads just weeks into his reign. The fanbase is increasingly restless. Some supporters have branded Onana the worst goalkeeper in the club’s modern history, while others insist Amorim’s loyalty to him could lead to disaster. A growing number are now demanding that Altay Bayındır be given a chance between the posts.
But Mourinho’s comments stretch beyond Onana. They carry a sting aimed at the club’s leadership and the patterns that continue to haunt Old Trafford. Dismissed years ago, the Portuguese coach now paints himself as the voice of experience, warning that Amorim risks repeating the cycle of errors that kept United in decline under his predecessors.
The challenge is clear. Amorim must decide whether to stick with Onana and gamble on his redemption, or cut ties early and hand responsibility to his understudy. Either way, Mourinho’s intervention has raised the stakes, and every mistake Onana makes from here on will amplify the pressure.
