Sky Sports’ Gary Cotterill faced backlash on social media following an awkward interaction with new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
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The Portuguese manager, who was announced as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford, had an uncomfortable exchange with Cotterill during a press conference in Portugal.
Despite knowing Amorim was still coaching Sporting Lisbon and would continue speaking Portuguese, Cotterill repeatedly requested answers in English. Cotterill’s persistence led to a tense back-and-forth, as Amorim politely declined to speak English, respecting the setup to answer in his native language.
Amorim’s polite but firm refusal led to Cotterill suggesting he was giving English fans “the cold shoulder,” a remark that prompted criticism from fans online. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) expressed frustration over Cotterill’s approach, calling it disrespectful and unnecessary.
Some fans pointed out that Cotterill should respect the setting and the language choice, while others criticized his perceived entitlement in expecting Amorim to switch languages.
As Amorim prepares for his role at United, he continues with Sporting Lisbon, where he’ll face Manchester City in the Champions League. Despite the exchange, Amorim has shown his ability to navigate media scrutiny, leaving fans hopeful for his arrival in Manchester.
