Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has sought to calm the storm after his fiery post-match remarks following their shock League Cup defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town, Afrosport reports.
United were dumped out in the second round on Wednesday, losing 12-11 on penalties after a dramatic contest at Blundell Park. In the aftermath, Amorim admitted his side were “completely lost” and insisted that “something has to change” – comments that immediately sparked speculation over his future at Old Trafford.
Speaking to the media on Friday, however, the 40-year-old conceded that his words were driven by emotion rather than deeper meaning.
He said: “To be really honest, every time that we have a defeat like that in the future I’m going to be like that. I’m going to say sometimes I hate my players and sometimes I love my players.
“Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years. I need to improve on that; it’s going to be hard but now I’m focused on the next game.”
United laboured against League Two opposition, needing late goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire to force penalties. The defeat marked their first ever competitive loss to a fourth-tier side.
Amorim’s cryptic claim that “the team and the players spoke really loud today” added fuel to speculation, but the Portuguese coach insists he has no intention of changing his approach.
“If you have this kind of behaviour, you have to understand you have things that are good on that and then you have the other side of the coin,” he said.
“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 calmer.
“I do understand that. But I’m not going to be like that. This is my way of doing things. That’s why I have the passion I have. In that moment I was really upset and really disappointed and I’m going to be who I am. So prepare yourself.”
Despite the backlash, reports coming out of Old Trafford suggest Amorim is still viewed as the right man to steer the club forward, with United’s hierarchy reiterating their belief in him.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss is, however, still chasing his first win of the season. United lost 1-0 to Arsenal on the opening weekend and were held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham before Wednesday’s shock League Cup exit..
Amorim’s men now turn their attention to Saturday’s home clash with newly-promoted Burnley, looking to spark their campaign into life before the September international break.
“I felt we had a very good pre-season, we were playing better, we were being consistent in the way we played,” Amorim added.
“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.”
