New United boss Amorim suffers awkward exchange with British reporter

Incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim refused to answer a British journalist in English in one of his final press conferences with Sporting Lisbon. 

Amorim insisted on speaking in his native Portuguese ahead of his final home game with Sporting, a clash with Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night. 

Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill repeatedly pressed Amorim - calling his refusal a 'cold shoulder to all your English fans' - but the Portuguese apologised, laughed it off, and continued in his mother tongue. 

The awkward clip has sparked a strong reaction, with Cotterill, who also fell out with Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag, receiving a torrent of online abuse.

Amorim, who will join United on November 11 on a contract worth a reported £6.5million per year, insisted his compatriots will 'miss me (speaking) in Portuguese'.




Incoming Man United boss Ruben Amorim refused to answer a question in English on Monday





This was the press conference for his final home game with Sporting Lisbon - a Champions League showdown with Manchester City





The tense exchange began with Cotterill saying: 'Ruben, hello. Do you know what we miss? Your wonderful English. Can we have one answer in English for all the people who are going to be watching this game interested in Manchester City, in Sporting, and in Manchester United? One answer in English?'

Amorim apologised and his press officer said: 'You'll have time to hear Ruben speaking English (when he goes to England), now it's time for him to speak Portuguese.'



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Amorim smiled broadly as Cotterill ploughed on.

'Have Manchester United asked you not to speak in English?' No, said Amorim. Cotterill added: 'I wondered if you were aware that obviously to win tomorrow night will be brilliant for your current club but also brilliant for your new club. You could be a hero before you even get on a plane to Manchester. Has that crossed your mind? In English, please.'

Amorim replied: 'Sorry, I cannot speak in English now.'

'Why?' demanded Cotterill, twice, as Amorim apologised.

'They will miss me in Portuguese, so I have to speak in Portuguese,' the 39-year-old said. 

At this point Cotterill upped the intensity: 'They've had about 25 minutes in Portuguese. We want 10 seconds in English.'




Amorim has agreed a deal to take charge of Manchester United from November 11





Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill wanted Amorim to give fans in England a response 





Sporting Lisbon take on Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday evening





'I know, I know,' came Amorim's reply, before his press officer insisted: 'We will proceed in Portuguese. Next week, you can hear him talking in English.'

At this juncture Amorim gave Cotterill a thumbs-up and clarified with a smile: 'More basic English.'

Then Cotterill's final retort: 'It's like a cold shoulder to all your English fans.' 

Amorim laughed, said sorry, and went about his business in Portuguese. He did field other questions in English, but spoke via a translator. A clip later emerged of Amorim giving an exclusive interview in English with rival broadcaster TNT Sports - the rights holders for the Champions League. 

Cotterill has been subjected to criticism, being branded 'arrogant' for demanding that a Portugese manager taking charge of a Lisbon-based club speak in English.

'This is exactly why people around the world don't like the English. Gary Cotterill sounds so arrogant demanding Ruben Amorim speaks English like this,' wrote one prominent account. 

'Embarrassing interview. The persistence of asking him to speak English is arrogant and uncomfortable to watch,' another viewer said.  

Others were sympathetic to a reporter trying to do his job. 'Gary Cotterill is a journalist, sent by Sky Sports to ask questions that most United fans want to hear. Perhaps he's a little persistent and rude but there should have been clear communication beforehand if the presser was only going to be in Portuguese,' one wrote. 




















Sky Sports reporter Cotterill was previously snubbed by former United boss Erik ten Hag  





Ten Hag refused to speak with Cotterill at a press conference after taking over as United boss





The Sky Sports reporter was previously snubbed by Erik ten Hag in 2022. 

Cotterill tried to speak to Ten Hag in the Selhurst Park parking area in May 2022, when the Dutchman had gone to watch United, who he would soon manage, in a 1-0 defeat by the Eagles.

Ten Hag's security guard held him away as Cotterill protested: 'Doesn't look good being manhandled by security, Erik. It's Man United, a big club.' He had also been rebuffed in Amsterdam. 

Then, in August 2022, ahead of a match with Southampton, Ten Hag blanked Cotterill as he asked a question before taking one from a BBC reporter - in a move that was widely seen as payback for the car park chase. 


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