Erik ten Hag has laid down the gauntlet at Manchester United, with several senior players losing their places after just three games of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n
Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are among the players to learn of Ten Hag\u2019s ruthless decision making and according to reports, that has been extended to the immediate press and media.<\/p>\n
Gary Cotterill, the Sky Sports journalist, infamously hounded Ten Hag at Crystal Palace in last season’s closing day, with the Dutchman in attendance to watch Ralf Rangnick\u2019s final game with John Murtough.<\/p>\n
The reporter clearly did not appreciate the behaviour of Ten Hag\u2019s security on that day and earlier this season, he gloated in United\u2019s 4-0 defeat to Brentford on Twitter.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag was visibly intimidated by Cotterill\u2019s aggressive behaviour at Selhurst Park last May and evidently, he has not forgotten that day.<\/p>\n
It has now been revealed that Ten Hag refused to speak to Cotterill at Friday\u2019s pre-match press conference. According to the Daily Mail,\u00a0media officials at United blocked Cotterill\u2019s attempt of asking Ten Hag any questions ahead of tomorrow\u2019s trip to Southampton.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m surprised,\u201d\u00a0Cotterill said after being denied the chance to speak to Ten Hag.\u00a0\u201cIt was just two people doing their job but I\u2019m 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\u2019m only guessing that was the reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t been told. You saw what was said but I don\u2019t think it would be too much of a leap to assume it was about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag is completely in his right to snub Cotterill at media events after the scenes outside Selhurst Park earlier this year. Ten Hag has been honest and frank with reporters since he took the job and should be treated with the same respect.<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly, he will face some recoil from those loyal to the Sky Sports reporter in question but similarly to how Sir Alex Ferguson did, it\u2019s vital that Ten Hag controls proceedings in front of the press.<\/p>\n
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