Amorim says temperament makes him feel he ‘wants to quit’ United some days

‘Sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love them.’

Ruben Amorim looks dejected after his team concede during the Carabao Cup second-round tie between Grimsby Town and Manchester United. Pic: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Ruben Amorim admitted his temperament makes him feel some days that he “wants to quit” and others that he would like to be Manchester United’s head coach for 20 years as he said he would continue to give emotional post-match interviews.

Amorim said after United’s Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby on Wednesday that “something has to change” and that “my players spoke really loud about what they want”, causing uncertainty about his future.

Asked about this on Friday, he was defiant. “Guys, to be really honest, every time that we have in the future one defeat like that, I’m going to be like that,” Amorim said. “I’m going to say that sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love my players, sometimes I want to defend my players.

“This is my way of doing things and I’m going to be like that. In that moment I was so frustrated and annoyed. And I know 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.” 

Amorim was asked whether it is understandable that his post-Grimsby reaction caused uncertainty regarding whether he will resign. 

“If you are in one way, if you have this kind of behaviour, you have to understand that you have things that are good [from] that type of behaviour, that you have the other side of the coin. So I understand that.

“And again, 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. So, again, I need to improve on that. It’s going to be hard.”

As the Guardian reported this week, Kobbie Mainoo wishes to leave. But Amorim said he valued the midfielder. “I want Kobbie to stay,” he said. "He needs to fight for his place, and we need Kobbie. So that is not going to change. I understand that the players that are not playing at this moment are disappointed. You have to fight during the week [in training].”

Guardian