talkSPORT's Simon Jordan “doesn't blame” Erik ten Hag for refusing to answer questions from certain journalists about Manchester United.
As reported by The TelegraphTen Hag's decision was evident during his press conference after the 4-2 victory over Sheffield United.
The dutch Some of the reports about his future at the club are said to have been “disrespectful” amid criticism of his performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.
United have previously journalists banned of a conference and those who bothered Ten Hag this time did not have the opportunity to ask him questions after Sheffield.
The Telegraph's Mike McGrath explained to talkSPORT that some of the feedback from the Coventry clash, in which they blew a 3-0 lead, “crossed the line” and was the reason behind his decision.
Speaking after White and Jordan, Jim White suggested Jordan that journalists can only ask Ten Hag questions if he likes the way they are asked.
However, the former Crystal Palace owner disagreed, saying: “No, I don't think that's a fair characterization Jim. I think the media and certain sections of the media don't have a God-given right to ask certain questions.” . or have the opportunity to ask certain questions, and the media creates narratives.
“Do I think it is advisable to close them so that they can be even more vocal in their condemnation of you? Possibly not. But I had this problem, I had this problem when Simon Greenberg was the editor of the Evening Standard, and then he became the head of Chelsea communications and told me about my football club.
“So I banned it because I got tired of the way they were behaving. I remember watching Alan Sugar fight with the press about the battle between him and (Terry) Venables, and him and potentially George Graham.
“Because certain sections of the press, the Mail and Jeff Powell, were very friendly to certain people and created a narrative. Look at Todd Boehly, look at the media narrative about Todd Boehly and the fact that he's 'an idiotic American who He doesn't know what he's doing and will carry it with him for some time.
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“So narratives are created by newspapers, so I understand why you would say, 'I'll tell you what, if that's the way you want to play this game, if you want to paraphrase words and put 'embarrassing' in front of me and make it happen.” bite the word “embarrassing” so you can create headlines out of it, then you're not a journalist I particularly want to talk to.
“So it reminds the press that they don't have a God-given right, if the press had their way, they would pick the England team, they would pick the England manager, they would tell him everything that is wrong in society.” without providing any solution.
“So I do him justice, but I try to put myself in that position and think, 'Would I let some brash journalist try to create a situation with me where I couldn't deal with him?'
“And it gave him that level of power where he felt like he was being excluded because he was so important. But that's me, and not some huge PR mechanism like Manchester United.”
White then asked what the point of this was, and Jordan replied: “To remind the press… because I remember, again using Simon Greenberg as an example, he told me that Crystal Palace's results and performances were often determined by the journalistic report.
“Which is why I almost spit my doll across the room because you are actually reporting the results that we do, you are nothing, you are screwed with everything that has to do with the result. It is reminding the press that they are a gear On the wheel, they are part of the equation, they are not the equation.
“And when they come forward with their opinions, what the press writes, like all of us and we sit here the same, is an opinion, it is not a fact. So if you don't want to deal with a certain section of the press because you don't want to, You don't have to explain it to them, they are there by consent, not by right.
“So I don't blame him for doing it because I think they crossed the line, I think they crossed the line by trying to force a narrative into Ten Hag's mouth about the shame he must have felt about that performance.
“Because the moment you accept that, the back pages of the newspapers would say: 'Manchester United manager says players are disgraceful.'”
