After suffering an embarrassing EFL Cup exit at the hands of Grimsby Town, Manchester United’s misery did not end on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils were knocked out in the second round of the competition after losing on penalties to the fourth-tier side, following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
It was the first time United had ever lost to League Two opposition in the EFL Cup and came at the end of a night where Ruben Amorim refused to watch the shootout, crouching in his dugout as the drama unfolded.
The defeat piled more pressure on Amorim after a winless start to the Premier League season and represented United’s most humiliating cup exit since their 4-0 thrashing at MK Dons in 2014.
Ahead of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday, Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen piled in on the criticism towards United in a brutal social media post.
The German giants, managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag, wrote on X: ‘Just hoping we don’t get Grimsby…’
Manchester United were brutally mocked by Bayer Leverkusen after their defeat by Grimsby
The Bundesliga club wrote on X ahead of the Champions League draw: ‘Just hoping we don’t get Grimsby…’
Leverkusen’s actual opponents are all far more experienced on the big stage.
They drew Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Villarreal, Benfica, PSV, Olympiacos, Newcastle United and Copenhagen.
United, meanwhile, will not play in Europe this season after suffering a 15th-place Premier League finish in 2024-25 and defeat in the Europa League final by Tottenham.
This campaign marks the first since 2013-14 in which United will not partake in any European competition, and the second in 35 years.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, the biggest marquee matchup will be Liverpool versus Real Madrid, which will see Trent Alexander-Arnold return to Anfield.
The Reds will also face Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, among other teams.
City will also meet Real, as well as Borussia Dortmund, while Arsenal are set to play Bayern Munich, Inter, Atletico and more.
Finally, Spurs’ most notable matches will come against Dortmund and PSG.
