Manchester United's plans for Ruben Amorim have been revealed as pressure ramps up on the manager after the League Cup defeat at Grimsby Town.
Manchester United boss Amorim seemed to declare his players had stopped listening to him in the aftermath of their midweek humilation, but has admitted his comments after Wednesday’s shock Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby were down to emotion.
Amorim said afterwards “something has to change” at Old Trafford and that the players’ performance “spoke really loud”.
Speculation swirled around Amorim’s comments and rumours have even begun to circulate that Jose Mourinho could return to Old Trafford after he left Fenerbahce this week.
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But the current United boss – speaking ahead of Saturday’s home match with Burnley – insisted his responses boiled down to emotion.
“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,” Amorim 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.
“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.”
Ornstein shares new Man Utd manager update
Speaking live on TNT Sport before Chelsea get gameweek three started at home to Fulham, The Athletic's David Ornstein was asked to explain the concerns around the United boss.
"The bare facts are that Manchester United do not want to sack Ruben Amorim," Ornstein said on Saturday's show. "They aren't having those conversations yet. They want him to succeed, it's early in the season, they've made new signings, they'll want to give him time.
"I don't see any world in which, at the moment anyway, he walks away from that job and that contract."
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Ornstein did however suggest defeat to Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday could change things: "However, if they lose, they will be in a world of pain. It's Manchester United and ultimately this is a results industry and we know how it works. If this continues they're in a bad spot.
"But I think it's got to a point where they've made so many managerial changes that they'll be looking for real reasons for this. The amount they've invested in this squad, they'll want to continue with him for the time being."