Diogo Dalot admits Manchester United players lost 'opportunity' to 'show we deserve to be here' in shocking Carabao Cup exit

Dalot has revealed a frank assessment of his team's dire performance against League Two side Grimsby, who dumped United out of the Carabao Cup on penalties. While showing deference to the Mariners, Dalot believes United squandered an opportunity to prove their doubters wrong by allowing the hosts to win too many key battles during the clash at Blundell Park.

Dalot's words reveal how much pressure United are under already after just three matches of the season. Following last term's woeful 15th-place finish in the league and a summer of high-profile new signings it had been expected that United would start strongly, but that has not been the case. The spotlight is firmly on boss Ruben Amorim and his ability to turn things round.

Dalot said: "I think we gave the game to them, clearly, straight away, exactly what they wanted. Win duels, second balls, set plays. We fought back, but I think that was the minimum that we could show to the fans that travelled for ourselves, for the club, but clearly not good enough. I don't want to go through the same sentence time and again. We just have to show (that) and we just lost one opportunity today to show that we deserve to be here."

United performed well in the season curtain-raiser with Arsenal and, despite that defeat, the signs looked positive. But the tepid draw with Fulham followed by humiliation against Grimsby has really turned up the heat on Amorim. The board have backed him in the summer transfer window which means performances and results must improve - starting on Saturday with the visit of Burnley.