Posted: 14:16, August 26, 2022 | Updated: 14:27, 26 August 2022
Erik ten Hag refused to take questions from Sky Sports in a confrontation with the broadcaster who is currently paying billions to cover the Premier League.
United media officials prevented a stunned reporter Gary Cotterill from asking questions during the Dutch manager’s weekly press conference ahead of their visit to Southampton.
The respected veteran journalist was not told exactly why Ten Haag would not accept a question, despite his attempts to answer one.
But he believes United’s actions stem from a game at the end of last season when United visited Crystal Palace and Cotterill tried to ask Ten Haag questions off the pitch, despite not officially being in charge at the time dot.
“I’m surprised,” said Cotterill, who also tried to get feedback from ten Hag at Ajax’s training ground last season.
“It was just two people doing their job, but I guess he was offended by it. “It was about Palace doing his job and not commenting and me doing my job and trying to get a comment. I can only imagine that was the reason.
“They haven’t told me. You saw what was said, but I don’t think it would be too much of a leap to assume that’s what it was about.”
Erik ten Hag refused to answer questions from Sky Sports at his press conference on Friday
As the Ten Hag left Selhurst Park at the end of last season, he was approached by Cotterill who tried to get an interview.
“Welcome to the Premier League, Eric,” said the Sky Sports reporter, but Ten Haag ignored him.
As a security guard tried to intervene, Cotterill persisted. ‘Are you excited to get started?’ he asked twice, before being pushed out of the way by security.
Gary Cotterill was pulled off the road by security as he tried to interview Ten Hag in May
He was previously dropped by Ten Hag in Amsterdam soon after being confirmed as manager
“Don’t push me, you’re on TV,” Cotterill said, before addressing Ten Haag saying: “It doesn’t look good to be handled by security, Eric. It’s Man United…it’s a big club.’
The security guard stopped Cotterill from speaking to Ten Haag and the 52-year-old then got into a car and drove away from the pitch.
The Sky reporter strangely had Ten Haag ‘learning’ from compatriot Louis van Gaal after the incident.
Their latest clash came as Ten Haag answered questions ahead of his team’s trip to Southampton
Cotterill posted a photo of himself alongside Van Gaal shortly after speaking to the Dutchman following his appointment as United manager in 2014.
“A Dutch manager’s reaction to being asked a question on the street by a Sky reporter AFTER he took the Manchester United job. But BEFORE I took the role,” Cotterill wrote.
“No no ten Hags. That was May 2014. Watch and find out.’
