'Sometimes I want to quit': Crestfallen Ruben Amorim casts doubt on Manchester United future

United came back from 2-0 down during their clash against fourth-tier Grimsby in the Carabao Cup second round, but lost it 12-11 as summer signing Bryan Mbeumo missed the decisive kick.

After the game, Amorim appeared crestfallen as he declared “something has to change” at Old Trafford and said that the players’ performance “spoke really loud”.

In the days that followed, reports claiming the Portuguese manager could resign from his position were widespread.

Read more: Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence earn first England call-ups

But ahead of Saturday’s match against Burnley, Amorim said his responses can be more extreme in the heat of the moment after a game.

“Every time in the future we have one defeat like that I’m going to be like that, I’m going to say sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love my players, sometimes I defend my players,” he said.

“This is my way of doing things and I’m going to be like that. And I felt that in that moment I was so frustrated and annoyed. And I know, again, that you have a lot of experienced people talking about the way I should perform with the media, to be more constant, to be more calm.

“I’m not going to be like that.”

Smiling, Amorim then added: “Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years. Sometimes I love to be with my players, sometimes I don’t want to be with them. I need to improve on that, it’s going to be hard but now I’m focused on the next game.”

United opened the season with a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal before taking a point from a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.

The shock loss to Grimsby has dealt another blow to confidence after a summer in which the club invested £200million in a new front line, giving Saturday’s match at home to the newly-promoted Clarets the feel of a must-win fixture.

“I was really upset and disappointed because I felt we had a very good pre-season, we were playing better, we were being consistent in the way we played,” Amorim added.

“We played badly for 30 minutes against Fulham and that kind of performance (against Grimsby) I was really disappointed with everything but now it’s a new game and we focus on that.”

United on Thursday agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, while Rasmus Hojlund is reportedly close to sealing his own exit.

However, LBC understands United have rejected a request from 20-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club on loan after he was an unused substitute in their first two Premier League games.

“I want Kobbie to stay,” Amorim said. “He needs to fight for his place, and we need Kobbie. So that is not going to change. The rest I don’t know how it’s going to finish.

“I understand that the players that are not playing in this moment are disappointed. But everyone will have the same opportunity to play. You have to fight during the week.”