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Oasis star Noel Gallagher was a surprise inclusion on commentary for TNT Sports coverage of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon, leaving viewers divided.
The 57-year-old musician is an outspoken fan of City and has been spotted among their fans during some of the club’s biggest victories in recent years.
However, he saw the reigning Premier League champions humbled in Portugal as they lost 4-1 to an impressive Sporting side, helmed by incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Gallagher, who has done punditry before, joined Darren Fletcher and co-commentator Ally McCoist for some pre-match analysis at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
However, many were surprised to hear him on commentary during the match as he saw his side surrender a one goal lead and succumb to their third defeat in as many matches.
Although nothing that Gallagher said during the game seemed to annoy fans, his mere presence was enough to cause some backlash.
One viewer said: “I love Noel Gallagher, but he’s actually commentating on a Champions League game involving the team he supports. What the f*** is happening to football on TV in this country? No wonder people don’t pay for subscriptions anymore.”
Another added: “No way that’s Noel Gallagher on commentary. I thought it was just some random ex-City player.”
While one wrote: “Noel Gallagher is on co-commentary on TNT tonight for the Sporting v City match! WTF! Are we going to have Ed Sheeran on co-comms for the Ipswich Town v Man Utd game in a couple of weeks?”
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A fourth person joked: “TNT have Noel Gallagher commentating on the Citeh match tonight…wonder if they’ll have Ozzy doing the Villa tomorrow night…”
Some were more supportive of the Oasis songwriter. Football analyst JJ Bull said: “Genuinely really enjoying Noel Gallagher on co-comms this evening.”
The Athletic reporter Tim Spiers, alluding to the US election results on Tuesday, wrote: “Like a lot of people today I’ve got to confess I was completely wrong about how last night would go. Noel Gallagher was actually alright as a TNT Sports commentator.”
Elsewhere, another person joked: “Noel Gallagher doing commentary for TNT Sports. Meanwhile, the clamour for tickets to see Clive Tyldesley in concert next year rolls on.”
In his day job, Gallagher is currently preparing for a huge Oasis reunion tour which will see the band play for the first time together in 16 years, at a string of stadium shows around the UK and Ireland, North America and Australia.
