Ruben Amorim has confessed that he has contemplated walking away from Manchester United, admitting that at times he even “hates” his players.
The under-fire manager’s comments have fueled speculation about his future after United’s shocking League Cup second-round defeat to League Two side Grimsby on Wednesday.
The humiliating penalty shoot-out loss to the Mariners marked a new low in United’s troubled start to the campaign, prompting Amorim to declare that “something has to change.” The Portuguese coach’s frustration comes after a series of disappointing results, with United losing to Arsenal and managing only a draw with Fulham in their opening Premier League fixtures.
Amorim, who took charge of the Red Devils in November after his successful spell at Sporting Lisbon, is already facing intense scrutiny less than a year into his tenure. Last season ended with the club suffering their worst league finish since 1973-74, and the latest setback has left Amorim battling to steady a ship that seems increasingly unstable.
With newly-promoted Burnley awaiting United this Saturday, the pressure is mounting. Another poor result could heighten calls for his dismissal, though reports suggest that club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe continues to back Amorim for now.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Amorim reflected on his emotional outburst after the Grimsby defeat. “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 and sometimes I think I cannot,” he explained. “This is my way of doing things and I’m going to be like that. I felt that in that moment, I was so frustrated, I was so 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.”
Despite his wavering emotions, Amorim insisted that his focus is now on restoring confidence within the team and lifting their performance levels. He admitted that the defeat to Grimsby initially left him considering whether he should walk away but emphasized that he has since refocused on the challenges ahead. “I felt that after the game. I don’t feel that now. So it’s a little bit like that. I think that is the hardest part of the defeat,” he noted. “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. 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.”
The recent defeat has been particularly damaging given the significant investment made during the summer transfer window. United spent around £200 million to secure new attacking options, including Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. These reinforcements were brought in after the team’s bitter loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final, which not only ended their European campaign but also cost them a Champions League spot.
Amorim, once considered among Europe’s brightest coaching prospects, has been taken aback by United’s struggles. “I felt we had a very good pre-season, we were playing better, we were being consistent in the way we played,” he admitted. “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.”
What you should know
Ruben Amorim, a 40-year-old Portuguese coach appointed in November, is already under immense scrutiny at Manchester United following poor results, including an embarrassing League Cup exit to Grimsby.
Despite heavy investment in new signings, United’s struggles persist, leading Amorim to openly admit his frustrations and doubts.
His future now hinges on whether he can quickly revive the team’s form, starting with a crucial game against Burnley.
