Asking the tough questions is so overrated. Forcing the question only makes people get on the defensive, answer in cliches or diversions, and usually just results in an arguement between interviewer and interviewee. Then that becomes the story, about how player X won't answer the questions and got into an arguement with journu Y. For cheap tabloid journalist like Kent that is their lifeblood. They don't want to give an interviewee a chance to adress the subject, they just want to be part of the bigger story.
I remember when Kent kicked up about Sterlo getting the Danny Wicks. He was afraid Sterlo wouldn't ask the hard/tough questions and in a way he was right. Sterlo didn't. But that's because Sterlo didn't have to. He was able to get Wicks ( and every other person he's interviewed) open up so they are comfortable enough to be open and honest.