Ruben Amorim was given an awkward introduction to the English media ahead of Sporting’s clash with Manchester City.
One reporter faced backlash for the questions he asked of Amorim, but talkSPORT hosts Simon Jordan and Jim White defended his actions in the face of a difficult situation.
Ruben Amorim had been hoping for a routine press conference ahead of Sporting’s clash with Man City[/caption]
The newly-appointed Manchester United boss continues his farewell tour of Sporting with a mouthwatering Champions League clash at home to City on Tuesday.
The visit of Pep Guardiola’s men will be Amorim’s final game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium before signing off after Sunday’s league trip to Braga.
For Amorim, who speaks English fluently, it has been business as usual including conducting all media duties in his native tongue.
And that’s despite the increasing English media presence at his press conferences since being announced as the new United boss last Friday.
However, journalist Gary Cotterill was in an opportunistic mood at Monday’s presser and probed the 39-year-old to speak to his soon-to-be English audience.
“Do you know what we miss? Your wonderful English,” Cotterill told Amorim who remained true to his word by replying, ‘sorry’.
“Can we have one answer in English for all the people watching this game, interested in Manchester City in Sporting and in Manchester United. Have Manchester United asked you not to speak in English,” the journalist asked.
“No, no, no,” Amorim replied.
“With no plans to let Amorim off the hook, Cotterill dug deeper, saying: “I wondered if you are aware that if you were to win (against Man City) it would be brilliant for your current club but also brilliant for your new club. You could be a hero even before you get on a plane to Manchester.
“Has that crossed your mind? In English please.”
“Sorry I cannot speak in English now,” Amorim responded.
When asked why he could not answer in English, the incoming Man United head coach said: “They will miss me in Portuguese so I have to speak Portuguese.”
Cotterill hit back with: “They had about 25 minutes in Portuguese, we want ten seconds in English.”
Sporting’s press officer intervened at this point saying: “We’ll proceed in Portuguese, next week you can hear him talk in English.”
With his hopes evaporating, Cotterill said: “It’s like a cold shoulder to all your English fans,” to which Amorim again replied, ‘sorry’.
Cotterill has since come in for criticism for his handling of the exchange with Amorim, but Jordan and White defended the Sky Sports man.
Speaking on their show, White said: “He didn’t give up as only Gary Cotterill can do. He operates as a bit of a lone wolf, he’s brilliant. He gets the bit between his teeth.”
Jordan continued: “It’s a very odd situation for him to be in. I always get slightly irritated when journalists have this sense of entitlement about what they can and can’t ask, especially when the questions are slightly benign.
“But I also think it’s very difficult for him. You’ve got a very rare situation where the new Man United manager is in situ at another club playing against an English club in the Champions League.
“A British journalist was invited along to the press conference and was not able to participate in the press conference because he doesn’t speak Portuguese.
“Was he asked to come along as an observer? If he wasn’t, then of course he’s going to ask a question in English.
“The challenge is did he push it too far? I don’t think it was right for Gary to suggest he’s giving his English fans the cold shoulder by setting a narrative that could come back to bite him.
“But when do you get the manager of Manchester United sitting in the dugout of another football club, doing a press conference, and British journalists being invited along.
“Cotterill is going to do what he should do and ask a question. The Portuguese are going to say they want to do it for the Portuguese press and media and you’ll have plenty of time to ask him questions next week.”
He added: “It was difficult for Cotterill yesterday, if he’d have sat there like a mute then his Sky paymasters would have said ‘what did you do, you silly sod?’.
“He doesn’t speak Portuguese, so he’s not going to ask a question in Portuguese.
“He’s doing his job.”
Amorim’s first match as Manchester United manager will be against Ipswich on November 24, after the international break.
