Erik ten Hag snubbed Sky Sports today at his press conference ahead of Manchester United's trip to Southampton tomorrow.
Ten Hag refused to take questions from Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill, who sat in the front row of the conference at United's Carrington training complex. Cotterill was informed before the press conference that Ten Hag would not be taking questions from him, but that did not stop the reporter from asking them.
It is understood Ten Hag's unwillingness to take questions from Cotterill goes back to the reporter door-stepping him at United's final game of last season, at Crystal Palace, after he had just been appointed to the Old Trafford job.
Cotterill said: "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."
Meanwhile, Casemiro could make his United debut at Southampton but manager ten Hag says Anthony Martial is out with an Achilles injury. The Old Trafford giants unveiled Brazil international Casemiro ahead of Monday's 2-1 win against Liverpool after signing the midfielder from Real Madrid for a fee rising to £70million.
Casemiro could feature on Saturday lunchtime at St Mary's but forward Martial is absent again, having missed the first two Premier League matches with a hamstring complaint. Ten Hag said: "Casemiro is fit. He did all the training sessions. He trained first individually and the last days he trained with the team.
"Martial came out with a problem on his Achilles, out of the game, so we have to wait. "I cannot tell a prognosis, how long it takes. I hope he will be available for the next game."
It is shaping up to be a busy period for United given Saturday's match at Southampton is followed by a trip to Leicester next Thursday, when the transfer window closes.
United have irons in the fire - from their pursuit of Ajax's Antony to a new goalkeeper - and new faces could arrive before the deadline.
Asked if he expects it to be a busy week in the transfer market, Ten Hag said with a laugh: "I don't know. We need players, clear - but we need the right players. That is what we said the whole transfer window and we are happy with what we did until now but the barrier has to be high."
