If Ruben Amorim’s side defeats Grimsby Town on Wednesday night, Manchester United might face a dreadful third-round draw. The Red Devils entered the League Cup at the same level as the Premier League’s bottom-ranked clubs this season, following a disastrous 15th-place result in 2024/25.
That early participation already means an additional fixture compared to the rest of the ‘Big Six’ if they are to reach the March 2026 final. Amorim’s recent negative remarks, implying that the squad is not yet ready for Europe and needs more time to develop, have only fueled criticism.
However, according to Carabao Cup rules, the toughest testing may still be ahead. Should United advance from Blundell Park, they may face a difficult task in the third round, putting Amorim and his players under even more strain.
Manchester United might face a nightmare League Cup third round draw.
On the EFL website, one regulation that could affect United is mentioned in a piece regarding the third-round draw, which will take place immediately following their game against Grimsby Town. It says:
“As UEFA competition fixtures cannot be rescheduled, and to enable the Carabao Cup to proceed within its agreed schedule without disrupting other League or domestic cup fixtures, the additional conditions will ensure that clubs participating in the Champions League or Europa League cannot meet each other in Round Three of the League Cup.”
United, who are not one of the nine teams competing in Europe this season, are more likely to be drawn against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, or Tottenham.
On the other hand, none of the mentioned teams can play each other, giving United’s competitors a much higher chance of drawing lower-ranked opposition, allowing them to rotate and rest their first-team players. With the Red Devils already winless this season, the prospect of facing another difficult set of fixtures adds to their concerns about Amorim’s side’s future.
United’s third-round match, provided they advance from the second round, is slated for the week beginning September 15. This sets it between the Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium on the 14th and Chelsea’s return six days later on the 20th.
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