Football pundit Danny Murphy has admitted he was ‘upset’ to see Noel Gallagher working on co-commentary for TNT Sports during Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night.
The Oasis frontman, who will be embarking on a lucrative tour with his brother Liam next year, is a huge fan of Pep Guardiola’s side.
On Tuesday, City were thumped 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon – with the reigning Premier League champions suffering their first Champions League defeat of the season.
But TNT Sports have been widely criticised for their decision to let Gallagher work as a co-commentator given he’s a singer, rather than anyone with a sporting background.
Football fans were left furious with TNT Sports’ decision to employ Noel Gallagher as a co-commentator during Man City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday
TNTSPORTS
Murphy, speaking on talkSPORT, has now expressed his views on the matter.
And the former Liverpool and Fulham star has admitted TNT’s decision to give Gallagher a role in commentary has ‘upset’ him.
“It would upset me. I wouldn’t want to hear that,” he said when asked if it could become a trend.
“Partly from a selfish perspective. Because I know how much work I put in and how difficult it is to try and see things, engage things, spend years watching different techniques and games to try and analyse them.
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“So, yeah, that would annoy me.
“I’ve got no problem with listening to different types of people watching football, pre [or] post [match], maybe even after.
“As co-commentary, it’s neither here nor there. It doesn’t add much value for me.
“It’s a very difficult job. I know from doing it. As a third one [like Gallagher], it’s fine. But there’s not much there you’re going to learn.
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“I’d rather see him before or after the game, giving his little anecdotes about Pep [Guardiola] and the players.
“He gives you something different. Some people will like it because of the novelty. I wouldn’t want to hear it every week, put it that way.”
Gallagher was left disappointed by City’s defeat.
And so too was Guardiola, who admitted his side were currently going through a ‘toigh’ season at a time when many of their best players are sidelined through injury.
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Football pundit Danny Murphy has admitted he was ‘upset’ to see Noel Gallagher working on co-commentary for TNT Sports during Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night
BBC
“It is a tough challenge, but I am here. It will be a tough season – we knew that from the start,” said the Spaniard.
“But this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it.
“Life is like this. Maybe in the past six Premier Leagues in seven years and four in a row is an exception. Sometimes you lose.
“Today we were really good – Bournemouth, no, they deserve it. We played really bad against Bournemouth and played really good today.
Man City were hammered 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night
PA
“I know how we behave today, how good we were, and how a young central defender [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey], what an exceptional game he played.
“When you lose 4-1 what can I say? My team I like it, we were close to making it 0-3.
“The stadium was calm but in one action we lose simple things with quality players and things that normally doesn’t happen. When you are so close to going 0-2 and then 1-3, it’s difficult for the players, I understand it.
“I have to try and find an explanation. Sometimes it is just football.”