Champions League final: CBS Sports stick with Carragher, Henry, Richards while BT roll out regulars

Manchester City are set to collide with Inter Milan in the Champions League final this weekend – but who will prevail in the battle of the pundits?

BT Sport will be fronting up the live UK coverage of Saturday’s final, with regular pundits Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen alongside presenter Jake Humphrey.

In America, CBS Sports are broadcasting the Istanbul showpiece and are sticking with their popular line-up of Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and host Kate Abdo.

While BT’s commentary team has not yet been confirmed, Darren Fletcher is likely to be joined by Glenn Hoddle and/or Owen Hargreaves. 

CBS have broadcasting veteran Clide Tyldesley and former England goalkeeper Rob Green calling the action, with Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel and Spanish journalist Guillem Balague as pitchside reporters.

Manchester City are set to collide with Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday

BT Sport will be fronting up the live UK coverage of Saturday’s final out in Istanbul

CBS Sports will be broadcasting this season’s European club showpiece over in the States

So which country has the better coverage in store? Mail Sport takes a look at various categories and how the two punditry teams fare in each of them…

Analysis 

The likes of Owen and McManaman may have their detractors at times, yet when it comes to cutting tactical insight BT certainly have the edge.

Carragher boasts a reputation as one of the strongest analysts in the UK and there are few who break things down as expertly as the Liverpool legend and Gary Neville over on Sky Sports.

Out in the US he is required to provide similar analysis at times, though given the contrasting culture Stateside it is by no means as meticulous or detailed, with CBS’ success as a platform instead centred around the natural chemistry of their team.

Richards’ unique selling point as a pundit has always been his humour and ability to gel with his colleagues – as well as that infectious laugh. With Abdo pulling the strings and steering them down light-hearted paths, Richards’ bubbly presence brings out a different side to both Carragher and Henry.

BT, on the other hand, offers a more traditional, straightforward viewing experience. Ferdinand has long provided valuable insight, while Lescott has emerged as one of the most respected pundits in the country in recent years.

Jamie Carragher is one of the finest pundits in the country but enjoys more light-hearted analysis over on CBS

Along with host Kate Abdo (bottom left), Thierry Henry (bottom right) and Micah Richards, Carragher forms a wisecracking team in the States

Richards’ unique selling point as a pundit has always been his humour and bubbly personality

Joleon Lescott (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) provide more hard-hitting analysis on BT

Owen and McManaman are not as fondly admired by the public – with the former often ridiculed over his tendency to state the obvious – yet both men still obtain plenty of knowledge and their opinions are therefore worth listening to.

In the commentary war, BT’s expected analyst team of Hoddle and Hargreaves outshines Green by some distance.

CBS do have Schmeichel and Balague on hand for analysis from pitchside, although it remains to be seen how frequently they are used on the night. They also have former referee Christina Unkel on hand to weigh in on any potential officiating debates.

BT Sport – 9/10

CBS Sports –  7/10

Chemistry

Almost a no-contest here, CBS thrives upon the chemistry of its punditry team and have enjoyed countless viral moments on the back of it.

Carragher, Henry, Richards and Abdo have a clear rapport with one another, exchanging jibes and jokes throughout broadcasts without crossing any lines, while also providing expert analysis when needed.

CBS have stumbled upon a winning formula by teaming a highly-talented, warm presenter in Abdo with a panel of wisecracking ex-footballers given the licence to let their hair down and soak up a fluffier take on punditry.

BT’s approach is simply a more robotic and standard one, with pundits brought in to each share their respective views on the game one by one. 

At times Humphrey attempts to lift the mood and bring out a lighter side to the likes of McManaman and Co, but when it comes to on-screen chemistry BT is trailing in its American rival’s wake.

BT Sport – 7/10

CBS Sports – 10/10 

The CBS punditry team outshine their UK rivals when it comes to on-screen chemistry

Experience

In terms of television experience, it is almost impossible to separate BT and CBS given there are no newcomers among their array of pundits, presenters and commentators.

And when running the rule over their achievements and standing in the game as players, it is equally difficult to split them.

In Henry, CBS obtain arguably the greatest Premier League striker in history, who scored 226 goals in 370 games for Arsenal while winning two league titles and as many FA Cups. He also got his hands on the Champions League with Barcelona.

Carragher is one of Liverpool’s finest players of the modern era and proved integral in their historic 2005 Champions League triumph, while Schmeichel is goalkeeping royalty after making close to 400 appearances for Manchester United and winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Richards and Green are CBS’ least decorated pundits, although the former won the Premier League with Manchester City and both men represented England on multiple occasions.

As for BT, they have no shortage of illustrious former players on their panel. Ferdinand won six Premier Leagues and the Champions League in his lengthy career at United, Owen scored over 200 goals for the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and United, McManaman claimed two Champions Leagues in his spell at Madrid and Lescott was an English champion with City.

CBS have one of the greatest strikers of all time at their disposal in Arsenal legend Henry

But BT have more experience on their panel, including two-time Champions League winner Steve McManaman

On their commentary panel, Hargreaves featured over 250 times for Bayern Munich and United, while Hoddle is both a revered former player and manager who racked up 490 appearances for Tottenham and took charge of his country.

It’s extremely close to call, but BT’s superior numbers may just edge it. 

BT Sport – 9/10

CBS Sports – 8/10 

Humour 

Similar to the chemistry category, it’s another no-contest as CBS completely eclipse BT in the comedy charts.

From Richards crying literal tears at Carragher’s attempt at pronouncing ‘Internazionale’ in an interview with Rafael Leao, to Henry’s disbelief at Richards spending £600 on haircuts per month, to Abdo being teased by her three colleagues for incorrectly introducing them as FOX Sports – there have been too many viral moments to list on the US show.

There is no comparison when it comes to humour, with CBS providing countless viral moments

If you’re looking for hard-hitting analysis and serious discussion about football, BT is the place for you. But if you’re in need of a laugh while getting your fix of football coverage there is no better option than the Henry-Carragher-Richards axis on CBS.

While Humphrey does try his best to sprinkle some humour into proceedings, comedy is not the aim of the game on BT and this one is therefore pretty easy to score.

BT Sport – 5/10

CBS Sports – 10/10 

Final scores

BT Sport – 30/40

CBS Sports – 35/40