How Manchester United sent former Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill into a pre-season meltdown

The story has been told of how Manchester United’s presence sent Cotterill into a rage, in the latest edition of Pompey Talk.

Blues writer Jordan Cross reflects on the most bizarre and farcical pre-season tour in the club history in the latest episode of the show, which is available to download now HERE.

The pre-season trip to North America in 2010 was beset with problems which took on eight flights, six hotels and airports, four different time zones and two delayed and cancelled flights.

The warning signs were immediately apparent on an epic 42-hour journey to San Diego at the start of the trip.

And it was during that journey Cotterill’s fury boiled over at check-in desk attendant - with United’s presence the tipping point.

Cross explained: ‘It was madness - a manic, manic pre-season, but there was one moment which stands out.

‘It was a tour which was done on the cheap, so there were no direct flights and we had to keep changing.

‘Because of that, flights kept getting delayed and cancelled - very Pompey-esque of that time.

‘We ended up stranded at Chicago airport and were waiting around for about five hours as a flight was cancelled, when Manchester United appeared out of nowhere.

‘They were playing a game out there as well but were ushered straight through to their flight and were slickly organised.

‘But Steve Cotterill saw this happen and then went apoplectic at this poor check-in desk guy! He absolutely ripped into him and there were a few effs and jeffs, shall we say.

‘Steve had just arrived at the club and there were young players and experienced pros like Danny Webber and Michael Brown looking at him thinking what is this guy up to! They couldn’t believe it.

‘Then before you knew he said “we’re off - who’s with me?” and stormed across the airport as the players slunk behind him!

‘It was a crazy tour - and that summed it up.’

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