Ruben Amorim admits his temperament means that on some days he “hates” his players and wants to quit and that on others he loves his squad and feels he would like to be Manchester United’s head coach for 20 years. Meanwhile, two of his forwards – Rasmus Højlund and Antony – neared the Old Trafford exit on Friday.
Amorim offered the remarkable insight into his personality at the end of a week in which he stirred uncertainty over his future with comments made after his team lost at Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. On Friday he said he intended to continue at United after the international break and thought he would do so but that he could not make any promises on his future.
After the Grimsby game Amorim said “something has to change” and that “my players spoke really loud about what they want”. Asked about those remarks as he prepared for Saturday’s home game against Burnley, he expressed no regret.
“Every time that we have in the future one defeat like that, I’m going to be like that,” he 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 believes United’s problems start in the players’ heads. “I feel the players are always thinking about the past,” he said. “They think there is something in the water here or in the food. It’s in our minds. We just need to think about the next game. We dropped a level [against Grimsby]. Now we have to respond in the next game.”
After playing Burnley, United resume their season on 14 September at Manchester City. Amorim was asked whether he could confirm he would be in charge after the break. “I don’t know what is going to happen,” he said. “That is my idea. But again, I am not going to promise you anything – what is going to be the future. But I’m the manager of Manchester United and I think that is not going to change.”
The Portuguese said he understood how his post-Grimsby reaction had caused uncertainty regarding whether he would resign. “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,” he said. “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.”
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Asked whether anyone at the club tries to talk him out of moments when he feels the need to quit, Amorim said: “I just need 10 minutes with myself. I don’t need anyone.” After likening his extreme feelings for his players to those he has for his children, saying “sometimes I hate my kids”, he suggested improved results would make him less likely to “suffer”. “We just need to win some games and then things will be easier to do.”
Amorim’s inflexible adherence to a 3-4-3 shape can draw criticism. He has said that formations do not matter so was asked, then, why he was unwilling to change. “If I feel it is best to change [I will],” he said. “We need to be so good in this way of playing and then we are going to adapt. When everyone is doing this with his eyes shut then we are going to do different things. This is the fun part.”
United agreed a season-loan deal with Napoli for Højlund on Friday. The deal includes an obligation to buy worth €44m (£38m) if Napoli qualify for the Champions League. The player still needs to accept the move to the Serie A side and could stay in Manchester. The club also accepted a £25m bid for Antony from Real Betis, a huge loss on the Brazilian, who was signed on 1 September 2022 for £82m, though there is a 50% sell-on clause.
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].”
