Man United lost to League Two Grimsby Town in the League Cup on Wednesday and Ruben Amorim was emotional post-match.
Amorim was as candid as ever at his press conference
Amorim was as candid as ever at his press conference
Ruben Amorim admits "sometimes he wants to quit" as Manchester United head coach.
Amorim was emotional in the raw aftermath of United's League Cup elimination by League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday night and admitted that "something has to change".
The Portuguese has won eight of his 34 domestic matches in charge of United but the team have had a winless start to the season and do not have a cup tie now until the FA Cup third round in January.
Amorim warned the United players he will continue to be frank in his assessment of the team if they suffer more galling defeats in the future, with newly-promoted Burnley due at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United sources clarified that Amorim's "quit" comment is meant as tongue-in-cheek, rather than an outright threat.
"Guys, to be really honest with you guys, every time that we have or 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.
"I think 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.
"So I'm trying to accept that and I'm going to be who I am. That's why I have the passion that I have. In that moment I was really upset and really disappointed because I felt that we had a very good pre-season, we were playing better, we were being consistent in the way we played.
"We played badly for 30 minutes against Fulham. And then that kind of performance, I was really disappointed with everything. But now it's a new game and I'm focused on the next one.
"If you are in one way, if you have this kind of behaviour, you have to understand that you have things that is good on 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. But now I'm good with the next one."
Amorim admitted after United lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur in May that he would walk away without compensation if he no longer had the backing of the hierarchy.
When asked if he still had that feeling now, Amorim replied: "I felt that after the game (at Grimsby). I don't feel that now. So it's a little bit like that. I think that is the hardest part of the defeat. Sometimes it's not the result, it's the way we lost that game or draw that game. That is the thing that is hard to accept. Because we can do better.
"In this moment, we cover positions, fight for the ball, running, all these small things, sometimes we drop a little bit the level. The good thing is that we now have the next game to put that level up. And that is the problem."