Ruben Amorim was involved in an awkward exchange with Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill during a pre-match press conference on Monday, after the Portuguese coach was asked to speak in English.
The 39-year-old, who was named Manchester United’s new head coach on Friday following days of intense speculation, will officially join the Premier League club on November 11.
But before doing so, he will take charge of his penultimate game at Sporting CP as they host Manchester City in the Champions League league phase on Tuesday night.
“My focus is on winning the match for Sporting,” he said ahead of the game in Lisbon. “The conclusions are not important for me because they could be erroneous: if we win tomorrow they will think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.”
Amorim added: “That will be very difficult. It could increase expectations, I don’t know what is better when I start my new adventure.”
Throughout the press conference, Amorim appeared relatively relaxed as he spoke in his native Portuguese.
When asked a handful of questions in English, however, his press officer interrupted and said English journalists would get answers when he officially starts at United later this month.
Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill, meanwhile, was determined to get an answer in English, and asked on multiple occasions if he could reciprocate.
“You could be a hero even before you get on a plane to Manchester. Has that crossed your mind?” said Cotterill, who then proceeded to ask if he could answer in English.
Amorim then responded: “Mmm sorry, I cannot speak in English, no.”
As you can see in the footage below, Cotterill questioned why on two occasions but Amorim was intent. “Sorry… they will miss me in Portugal,” he said. “So I have to speak in Portuguese.”
Cotterill then hit back, saying: “They’ve had about 25 minutes in Portuguese. We want 10 seconds in English… It’s like a cold shoulder to all your English fans.”
Amorim, who speaks good English having completed some of his UEFA coaching qualifications in Belfast, admitted that his communication skills will be “more basic” when he first arrives at Manchester United.
“My communication at the beginning will be simpler because it is in English,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “I think I will have to spend three months… they say that is enough. The players will not be offended if I say that they are more basic. I give training sessions here in English.”
He added: “It will be a different adaptation, but my life will be the same, there is a way of playing, an idea. But communication will be more basic.”