Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill was prevented from asking a question during Erik ten Hag's press conference ahead of Saturday's match against Southampton.
Ten Hag spoke to assembled members of the press at Carrington at 1.30pm on Friday afternoon ahead of United's match against Southampton, but Sky Sports' reporter Cotterill was unusually overlooked when trying to ask a question.
After two journalists opened the questioning, Cotterill attempted to speak to Ten Hag and he was surprisingly overlooked.
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Instead, another reporter from the BBC was allowed to ask a question before the director of communications moved on to the embargoed section. Sky Sports usually have reasonable access to the club and Cotterill was not happy with the snub.
He expressed his disappointment after being overlooked during the press conference but the questioning moved on regardless.
Cotterill travelled to the Netherlands in April and waited outside Ajax's training ground to get a comment from Ten Hag on his talks to become manager of United, but Ten Hag held his hand up to block the Sky Sports' camera before driving away.
"He looked a bit taken aback and surprised to have a Sky Sports microphone thrust in front of him," Cotterill said. "He didn't really want to say much did he? He’s going to have to get used to a slightly less laid back atmosphere than they have out here in Amsterdam."
That incident was followed by Cotterill being snubbed by Ten Hag again at Selhurst Park in May on the final day of the season.
Cotterill approached Ten Hag to ask a question but security intervened and ensured he kept his distance. Cotterill took to social media after that incident to post a picture of him alongside Louis van Gaal from when Van Gaal was appointed at Old Trafford in 2014.
Cotterill wrote: "A Dutch manager’s reaction to being asked a question in the street by sky reporter AFTER getting the Manchester United job. But BEFORE taking up the role. No not ten Hag. This was May 2014. Look and learn."
After the latest press conference incident, Cotterill said to reporters: "I’m surprised. It was just two people doing their job but I’m assuming he was offended by it. The thing at Palace was him doing his job and not commenting and me doing my job and trying to get a comment. I’m only guessing that was the reason. I haven’t been told. You saw what was said but I don’t think it would be too much of a leap to assume it was about that."
The MEN understands United were not happy with Cotterill's door-stepping of Ten Hag at the Ajax training ground earlier this year, and were also unhappy with the timing of a tweet Cotterill sent shortly after the recent 4-0 loss to Brentford. The tweet read: "karma" and was followed by a smug-faced emoji. Ten Hag wasn’t inclined to accept a question from Cotterill due to his tweet apparently revelling in United’s defeat.
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