Fans slam TNT Sports for ‘absolutely butchering’ Champions League coverage with viewers left ‘devastated’ at huge change
FOOTBALL fans slammed TNT Sports for "absolutely butchering" a popular Champions League show.
The beloved Goals Show has been repackaged to suit the new format of the three European club competitions.
That means fans won't get to watch analysis from presenter James Richardson as well as journalists James Horncastle, Julien Laurens and Raphael Honigstein.
TNT Sports replaced the popular show with Goals Show Xtra, which is presented by Matt Smith from a brand new studio called The Curve.
Smith is joined by Karen Carney and Owen Hargreaves for matchday one of the Champions League.
But that didn't go down well with fans as they stormed social media to air their grievances.
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One fan tweeted: "TNT had the best football programme with the Champions League Goals Show.
"They’ve absolutely butchered it. A real shame."
Another commented: "This new format is terrible."
A third wrote: "TNT sports had the best football show in the business with the Champions League Goals Show and they had to go and f*****g ruin it."
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This one said: "Look like TNT have f****d the Champions League Goal Show."
And that one stated: "Tremendous job from TNT ruining the Champions League Goals Show. It used to be must-watch television."
Laurens, Horncastle, and Honigstein will offer additional commentary and analysis throughout the season.
Owen Hargreaves Season Predictions
HARGREAVES ON BELLINGHAM
“I SAW the Super Cup and Jude Bellingham played the best game of his life.
“He’s playing a bit more in his natural position, a little bit deeper. He’s the perfect midfield player.
“Jude is just going to get better and better with Kylian Mbappe and Endrick.
“I know a lot of people have not seen much of Endrick but to go with him and Rodrygo, Valverde, Modric, Courtois and Alaba, Rudiger, Carvajal . . .
“That is some collection of players, it’s amazing.”
HARGREAVES ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DARK HORSES
“PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, just in the way Luis Enrique plays. He plays such aggressive football and they’ve got so many really good ball players.
“I’m happy to see they’re focused on young French players. That’s probably what they should have done long ago.
“Inter are really good. They’ve got a clear identity to how they play under Simone Inzaghi.
“Marcus Thuram came on a free, it’s amazing no one else picked him up.
“They’re not the most offensive team but often those teams do really well in the Champions League.
“They don’t make mistakes in silly moments.”
HARGREAVES ON PREM CONTENDERS
“MANCHESTER CITY have the best squad and they’re using four centre-backs so defensively they’re a bit more stable.
“Arsenal need a little bit more experience in the Champions League.
“To win the Champions League might take a little bit more time in the transfer windows. But they’re going to win trophies, it’s a question of when.
“Liverpool have crazy firepower. Federico Chiesa is an amazing player and he’ll suit the Premier League because he’s crazy explosive.
“I’m excited for Aston Villa as Villa Park is going to be one of the best atmospheres in Europe this season.”
HARGREAVES ON PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
“MICHAEL OLISE is going to be great at Bayern Munich.
“Playing at Crystal Palace he probably didn’t get the notoriety he deserved but he’s such a good finisher and technically really good.
“Endrick at Real Madrid is cool because people don’t know a lot about him. He’s still so young but he’s just got it.
“Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen is an amazing player with a really unique style. His numbers from last season were crazy.
“As a young kid, putting himself in the Ballon d’Or conversation is rare. He’ll be playing at Real Madrid or Man City in a couple of years.