Manchester United chiefs remain concerned that Ruben Amorim may quit his job despite watching his side snatch a crucial victory over Burnley courtesy of skipper Bruno Fernandes‘ stoppage-time penalty. United claimed their maiden Premier League win of the campaign in a thrilling conclusion at Old Trafford, just as the newly-promoted Clarets appeared poised to inflict another crushing setback on the embattled Red Devils manager.

However, the win simply masked the flaws of yet another display that swung from brilliant to bizarre. And while United continue to back Amorim’s ability to transform the squad, the 40-year-old’s erratic behaviour has started to worry officials. Following Wednesday’s shocking Carabao Cup elimination at Grimsby, speculation was widespread around Old Trafford that the ex-Sporting manager could walk away during the international window, regardless of the outcome of the Burnley match.

Such fears may have eased temporarily following the morale-boosting maiden victory of the new campaign. Yet Amorim declared: “I’m not thinking about turning point. I’ve had this conversation with you guys like 10 times.

“It’s day by day. I’m happy. We returned a little bit to our level today. If you take away Wednesday, we are more consistent in the performance compared to last year. That’s a good thing.”

Amorim has shown no reluctance to publicly criticise his squad – or express reservations about his suitability for the role. Some senior players are disillusioned with Amorim’s commitment to the 3-4-3 tactical formation that he utilised so well in Lisbon.

Some United players think his system does not fit the profile of his squad in Manchester. And a few of those players have felt alienated by the manager’s public criticism after Amorim admitted he sometimes hates his squad.

Warning signs emerged in the boardroom back in May when Amorim stated he would be willing to walk away from the club without demanding compensation if he believed his departure would serve the best interests of both parties.

However, he stepped forward to support goalkeeper Altay Bayindir following the Turkish shot-stopper’s latest error that allowed Jaidon Anthony to net Burnley’s second equaliser.

Amorim said: “Yes, in some moments (I hate the players). But when they put in the effort, I will always love them. I think we need to understand that we should have always been on this level of effort.

“We played well in the beginning. When the match was not so perfect, you can feel that the team struggled a little bit – but the effort was always there.

“Guys, they are humans. Everybody talks about the goalkeeper. But I think it’s hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment.

“The players are struggling a little bit with all the things around the club. That is normal. So it’s not just the goalkeepers. I think everybody has to improve.”

United believe they have provided Amorim with unwavering support – both through transfer investment and by standing firmly behind him after he excluded high-profile stars including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia from his squad.