Ruben Amorim’s Press Conference Language Approach

A reporter arrived at the press conference room for Sporting’s pre-match media ahead of their Champions League game against Manchester City, having been delayed by a flight and security queues at Lisbon airport. The reporter discovered they were seated one empty seat away from Ruben Amorim, who was observing one of his players answer questions. The reporter greeted Amorim and shook his hand, to which Amorim responded civilly. Following 20 minutes of questions answered in his native Portuguese, Amorim proceeded to address five or six additional questions posed by the English media. His responses remained in Portuguese. When an English TV journalist inquired if he could provide an answer in English, Amorim declined. His press officer stated that “English journalists would get a lot of answers in their native tongue when he starts officially at Manchester United on 11 November.” The press officer further clarified that, “For now, it is Portuguese only.”