'Sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I want to quit' - Amorim

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has blamed his emotions for his post-match comments after the Grimsby defeat which provoked questions about his future, saying "sometimes I want to quit".

In the immediate aftermath of the EFL Cup defeat by the League Two side on Wednesday, the Portuguese said his team "were completely lost" and that "something has to change".

He opted not to clarify his comments, which even inside Old Trafford have been interpreted by some as the 40-year-old considering his future.

But speaking on Friday, 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."

In the aftermath of the penalty shootout defeat at Blundell Park, the first time United had ever lost a competitive game to a fourth-tier club, Amorim spoke to numerous media outlets.

To them all, he said 'the team and the players spoke really loudly today' without clarifying what he meant.

He also said he needed to talk to the club's hierarchy next week and 'think about things'.

Amorim accepts such pointed statements are bound to invite debate about his future and bring uncertainty.

However, it is something he is prepared to accept because he cannot curb his reactions.

"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 more calm.

"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."

Amorim is understood to retain the support of United's ownership, who backed him in the summer, with the club spending around £200m on forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo and Benjamin Sesko.

But they are yet to win this season following a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.

They host Burnley on Saturday at 15:00 BST.

"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."

'It could be a bumpy ride' - Analysis

Strap yourself in, it could be a bumpy ride.

Ruben Amorim told it how it is when he spoke to the media on Friday. His jovial mood was back. He seemed more in control.

We have got used to Amorim speaking from the heart and, in explaining why he said what he did at Grimsby, it was as though he was purging himself.

The problem with speaking through emotion - and every manager has done this after matches at times - is at Manchester United, statements are analysed until the next time the person who has made them speaks.

On this occasion, it was only two days. But with no Europe and no EFL Cup, now the gaps are going to be much longer and there will be far more time to dissect what Amorim has said.

So, will tomorrow's game against Burnley end up as a day where he wants to quit, one where he hates his players? Or will it be one where he wants to stay for 20 years, one where he loves his players?

Amorim knows some people want him to pull back with his outbursts. But he can't.

With a team as erratic as Manchester United are just now, that could make for some very watchable media briefings.

Hojlund talks continue, Elche keen on Malacia

After confirmation United had accepted a £40m offer from Chelsea for wantaway winger Alejandro Garnacho, the future of other exiled players with the Old Trafford club continues to be debated.

United are continuing to talk with Napoli over a loan deal for striker Rasmus Hojlund.

In addition, Spanish club Elche have made contact over taking another member of Amorim's 'bomb squad', Tyrell Malacia, to La Liga before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Meanwhile, Serie A outfit Roma continue to try to secure the signing of Jadon Sancho, although coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said there is a limit to what his club will do and Sancho should look favourably on a chance to restart his career.

"He would be a huge boost for us, but we would be an enormous opportunity for him," said Gasperini.

"I'm not sure if it can still happen, but we don't have to pray for someone to come here."