Man Utd upset with Sky Sports over 'hostile' treatment of incoming boss Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim had an unusual exchange with Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill in one of his final Sporting Lisbon press conferences - with Manchester United unimpressed with the exchange
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorManchester United are understood to be disappointed with the line of questioning Ruben Amorim was subjected to by Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill.
The Sporting Lisbon boss is in his final week as manager before he moves to the Red Devils with interest spiking in Amorim following the announcement last week. The 39-year-old was preparing for his penultimate clash, which was against Manchester City in the Champions League.
Amorim conducted his pre-match press conference in Portuguese, as is the norm, but Cotterill was determined to get an answer to his question in English. The outgoing Sporting boss reiterated his desire to speak in his mother tongue.
The Sky Sports reporter said the reporters had enjoyed 25 minutes in Portuguese, he wanted "10 seconds in English." He went on to tell Amorim "‘It’s like a cold shoulder to all your English fans."
The Daily Mail reports that United have no plans to make an official complaints to Sky Sports, the premier rights holder to the Premier League, whom they generally enjoy a good relationship with. They are, though, disappointed by the "hostile" treatment their future manager faced.
Sky Sports and Cotterill are unlikely to have been thrilled that Amorim went on to give an exclusive interview in English to rival broadcaster TNT Sports, who showed Sporting's game against City in Amorim's final home outing.
Cotterill has previously angered United bosses before they've even begun work. He tried to talk to Erik ten Hag in 2022 when he attended a game at Crystal Palace. The Dutchman had security holding off the Sky Sports reporter, who said it "wasn't a good look".
When Ten Hag first faced the media weeks later the then United boss was so angered that he refused to take a question from the Sky Sports reporter at his first pre-match press conference.
Cotterill's actions with Amorim were widely condemned on social media as his interview clip did the rounds. The Portuguese boss will take charge of his new side when they visit Ipswich on November 24 - a game that will be live on Sky Sports - by which time he will have faced the media.
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