- Lineker has stepped down as host of show
- New season kicked off on Saturday
- Verdict delivered on new Match of the Day
Lineker put his feet up to watch the first Match of the Day of the new season after stepping down as the popular programme’s host last season. Mark Chapman took over hosting duties for the opening weekend, while Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney were on hand to offer some expert analysis.
Lineker had been Match of the Day host for 26 years prior to his departure and has now been asked what he thought of Saturday’s show. The former England captain, who had previously told the Telegraph that BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski “wants to change Match of the Day a bit,” seemed pretty happy to see that Match of the Day actually looked the same as usual.
He told The Rest is Footballpodcast: “I mean, I must say I enjoyed it. I went out for dinner then I came home and I got in in time to watch it. I thought it was really good. Chappers did a great job. And despite all… there was a lot of talk that they were going to change things. And I think you know what it’s like when you get a new guy in as new head of sport thinking he wants to do this, wants to do that. But in the end, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And I think that was very much the sensible decision and I thought the programme was great.”
Lineker also admitted he enjoyed watching the show at home and was impressed with Rooney’s performance. He added:”It wasn’t weird really. I was quite relaxed. I was thinking I haven’t got a three-and-a-half hour journey at the end of the show, but no, I really enjoyed watching it. I think that’s the first time that I’ve watched Match of the Day on a Saturday night for… I don’t know how many years. ‘I don’t know how many years because the only time I ever missed the show was if I’d get the odd Saturday off to take a holiday so I’d go somewhere. So it’s been so long since I watched it and it’s a bloody good show, Match of the Day… it really is.
“I thought the the programme was great. ‘I thought Wayne Rooney did really well as well as yourself Alan, some good analysis in there. It was so nice watching it holding a glass of wine.'”
Lineker will no doubt be watching again when Match of the Day returns at the weekend with highlights from another round of Premier League fixtures. There are some more intriguing fixtures coming up, starting with West Ham hosting Chelsea on Friday, Manchester City facing Spurs on Saturday, while Newcastle and Liverpool lock horns on Monday night.
