Manchester United suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby, losing 12-11 on penalties, before being brutally trolled with a viral “You’ve just been slapped by the fish” meme.
Manchester United’s disastrous start to the 2025-26 season hit a new low as Ruben Amorim’s side were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League Two outfit Grimsby Town. To make matters worse, the Mariners rubbed salt into the wound by trolling the Red Devils with a viral meme that quickly caught fire online.
United’s Struggles Deepen
The Red Devils travelled to Blundell Park under pressure, still chasing their first win of the season after collecting just a single Premier League point from their opening fixtures. Grimsby, smelling blood, capitalised on United’s fragility and stormed into a two-goal lead.
Andre Onana, already facing questions over his form, endured another nightmare performance between the posts as errors gifted the Mariners hope of a famous upset.
Late Comeback, But No Rescue
Despite their poor showing, United clawed back into the contest late on. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire found the net to level the game and force a penalty shootout after 90 minutes.
What followed was an astonishing test of nerve from 12 yards. Both sides traded successful spot-kicks in a marathon shootout that eventually ended 12-11. The decisive moment came when Mbeumo, who had earlier scored in normal time, smashed his effort against the crossbar — sparking wild celebrations from the home crowd.
Grimsby’s Savage Social Media Dig
If the result wasn’t embarrassing enough for United, Grimsby’s official social media account ensured the pain lingered. Joining the “You’ve just been…” meme craze sweeping football banter pages, they posted a picture with the caption: “You’ve just been slapped by the fish.”
The post quickly went viral, with fans across social platforms reveling in United’s humiliation. For Grimsby supporters, it capped one of the greatest nights in their club’s modern history.
Trouble Mounting for Amorim
The result piles even more pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, whose United tenure is already being questioned just weeks into the season. Onana’s repeated mistakes and the team’s lack of cutting edge have left the club reeling, with Saturday’s Premier League clash against Burnley now looking like a must-win fixture.
For Grimsby, meanwhile, this victory will live long in memory — not just for the result itself, but for the way the club gleefully mocked one of the world’s biggest teams in front of millions online.
