Paul Merson shocked as ‘Leandro Trossard’ referees Man City vs Real Madrid
Paul Merson couldn’t believe it when he thought he saw that Arsenal attacker Leandro Trossard was in charge of the Champions League clash between Man City and Real Madrid.
Having finished in the top eight of the league phase to automatically secure their place in the last 16 of the competition to ensure a big financial windfall, Arsenal are not involved in the knockout play-off round of the competition.
That is not the case for Pep Guardiola’s side, who hosted Real Madrid in the first leg of their play-off at the Etihad on Tuesday (11 February).
Things initially started well for Man City in that game, as they took the lead through Erling Haaland with just under 20 minutes on the clock.
Even so, that opening goal did enable Merson to find a connection to Arsenal and Trossard in that game in a rather amusing way.
Sky Sports pundits in hysterics over Arsenal confusion
With the opening goal for Man City needing a long VAR check to confirm if Haaland was onside when he received the ball from Josko Gvardiol, the officials came under the spotlight at that point.
That was particularly the case with French referee Clement Turpin, as Merson was baffled by the uncanny resemblance between the official and Arsenal forward Trossard.
Speaking about the VAR check for Haaland’s first goal of the game while reporting on the match on Sky Sports Soccer Special, the former Gunners star said: “I think he might be onside here. He chests it down, runs onto it, side-foot volley. It’s going to be tight but I think he might just be on here, he needs to be on.”
After spotting Turpin on the match coverage a dumbfounded Merson hesitated before adding: “Trossard’s the ref isn’t he?”
When informed by host Julian Warren that referee Turpin is “Trossard’s doppleganger”, the pundit responded: “Is it? Wow. Even Kevin De Bruyne just went up to him and said ‘Are you Trossard?'”
The rest of the panel then erupted into laughter at their fellow pundit.
Pep Guardiola not laughing after Champions League clash
Football Insider Verdict
While the appearance of a Trossard lookalike in Turpin may have provided some light relief for Merson and his fellow pundits, Pep Guardiola will be much more concerned by what happened at the Etihad.
Despite his side twice taking the lead in that match, two late goals from Real Madrid mean the Premier League champions now head to the Bernabeu for the second-leg next week facing a 3-2 deficit.
With goalkeeper Ederson making some costly errors for those goals, Guardiola may have a big selection call to consider between the posts for Man City ahead of that match.
Beyond that, this is yet another example of a game this season where his team have given away a lead to lose, something previously considered uncharacteristic for his side.
Given how short Man City appear to be falling on multiple fronts during the current campaign, that is something he will be desperate to fix as soon as possible.
As a result it is unlikely Guardiola will be able to see the funny side to the similarities between Trossard and Turpin that others do at this moment in time.