Making My Debut In The Champions League
Interviewing Arsene Wenger for ITV Sport
It all started with a friendly and ended in the Champions League. To say it’s been a challenging and incredibly rewarding few weeks is probably an understatement.
I was recently asked by ITV Sport to do some pre and post match interviews for them. First up, I had the task of doing new Tottenham boss, Mauricio Pochettino’s very first “as live” TV interview in English, at Spurs friendly against Schalke at White Hart Lane. As a North Londoner, the gig was perfect. Just a 15 minute journey to work.
It was a real honour to receive the call, as I have grown up admiring the work of ITV top dogs Gabriel Clarke and Ned Boulting. Both are exceptional interviewers – so I knew the audience would have high expectations. Trust me, I did not sleep much the night before.
Match day came around and the gig went pretty smoothly. Pochettino spoke well, I was prepared and a good result for the home team made post match fairly straight-forward.
I made the 15 minute journey home itching to have another go. And when I checked my email inbox the next day, that opportunity was staring back at me – but this time in the Champions League.
Without much time to think, I found myself on a plane to Istanbul to cover Besiktas v Arsenal in a Champions League qualifier. This was no friendly.
I did not sleep for two nights – wrestling with nerves and anxiety. I read absolutely everything about both sides – twice. Then before I knew it Arsene Wenger was stood in front of me, and I had fulfilled the brief of delivering a concise 1 minute pre match interview, before an eventful draw gave me plenty to ask about after the final whistle. Job done.
My hat trick of gigs was completed at Celtic for their qualifier against Maribor. I slept like a baby before this one, but the nerves were still eating me up.
A few years ago I was afraid of failure. I seriously would have turned these opportunities down – opting for a quiet life. Then I reached a point where that was no longer an option. This column, making films, and interviewing on BBC and ITV all come with risk attached. Not everyone will dig you. But I feel we should grab the opportunities those before us never had – and enjoy them!