BREAKING NEWS: Kate Scott Resigns, Thierry Henry Returns to Coaching – CBS Sports Faces a Nightmare.giang

Kate Scott, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher have proven to be a dream team for CBS Sports – and a change in this lineup would certainly not be welcomed by the broadcaster.

Football enthusiasts eagerly tune into CBS during the week to enjoy the US broadcaster’s Champions League coverage, where they are met with an excellent dynamic from the current panel. Host Kate Scott expertly keeps the panel focused, while also adding some witty humor at the start of the show.

In addition, Henry’s insights and dry wit, combined with Richards’ contagious laughter and Carragher’s amusing outbursts, make this group of pundits a thrilling watch before, during and after Champions League matches.

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However, this group of football experts could disband within months, given rumors about contract details, new prospects and shifting priorities due to significant life changes. Here, Mirror US Sport outline what the worst-case scenario could look like for CBS Sports regarding potential changes in their Champions League panel.

Kate Scott – a move to US for family reasons?

Kate Scott, formerly known as Abdo, recently tied the knot with Malik Scott, a former professional boxer and current trainer in his home country of America. The couple went public with their relationship in December 2023 and exchanged vows in September this year, in an intimate ceremony in the Malibu Hills.

The 43-year-old has been a significant figure at CBS since 2020 and is widely acknowledged as one of the top television hosts and sports presenters currently. She signed a new four-year contract with CBS Sports in 2023 to lead their coverage of the Champions League, working alongside Henry, Carragher and Richards.

Her management of the program has received widespread acclaim, including from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. After his team clinched the coveted trophy in 2023, the City boss appeared on the show and expressed his admiration for Scott, stating that the CBS coverage is the “funniest in the Champions League this season”.

However, her recent marriage to Malik could potentially disrupt her career as a presenter, as she might want to dedicate more time to her new family. With her contract set to expire in 2027, it’s not uncommon for a presenter to step down early to pursue other interests, whether professional or personal.

Thierry Henry – tempted by coaching?

Henry is a key figure in the CBS panel, with his quick wit and Champions League experience making him one of the most informed on screen. He’s also reportedly pledged his future to CBS Sports, signing a three-year contract that will see him through to the end of the 2026/27 season.

However, after stepping down from his coaching role with the French national team due to “personal reasons”, it’s not unthinkable that the former Arsenal star could be lured back into coaching a major club or national side.

With previous roles at Monaco, Montreal Impact and the Belgian national team, the chance to take on a high-profile position in any of Europe’s top leagues might be enough to draw the Frenchman away from his CBS Sports gig.

Jamie Carragher – one more mistake and he’s out?

Carragher is known for his outspokenness and divisive views on CBS Sports, making him a crucial part of the show’s dynamic. After all, it would be dull if all four panelists consistently agreed on everything.

The ex-Liverpool defender doesn’t mince his words, which is a contrast to his slightly more restrained demeanor on Sky Sports, when discussing underperforming teams or managers under pressure, and sometimes his frank approach can get him into trouble.

Recently, Carragher immersed himself in the Borussia Dortmund fan experience at their semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, indulging in some pre-match drinks and joining in with the iconic ‘Yellow Wall’. He returned to his professional duties later to interview Jadon Sancho, although he appeared somewhat disheveled from having a good time with the fans.

Carragher found himself in hot water at another point in the show earlier this year, after cracking an ill-received joke during a panel discussion about football team loyalty. While on air in March, Carragher quipped to Scott: “You are wearing [an Arsenal shirt] next. For the last part, you are going to wear it.”

Scott replied: “I am not. I am loyal.” Carragher asked: “To whom?” It led Scott to reply: “Manchester United, thank you very much,” prompting Carragher to jest: “Not to Malik.”

This uncomfortable moment was met with silence from Richards and Henry, punctuated only by Carragher’s own laughter. CBS Sports producer Pete Radovich later released a statement to The Athletic to dispel any speculation of discord among the panel members.

Radovich said: “The first thing to say is everyone was surprised at the reaction that night; myself, Kate and Jamie included, because it was just banter gone wrong amongst friends, between a brother and sister. That night, when it started to snowball, we had discussions. It wasn’t alarms or questioning if we were going to be able to repair this. He misspoke. He felt bad. Kate wasn’t crazy about it, but none of it was like, ‘this could be the end’.

“The biggest reaction was surprise at how much play it got. So, there was never a moment in all of that time where I was like, ‘wow, I don’t know if we can bounce back from this’. Not even for a split second because I knew internally we were all cool. It’s not for me to speak for Kate, but I can only speak to the conversations I had with Kate. She conveyed to me that she wasn’t crazy about the comment, but at the same time, we can get over this.”

The recent awkward moment might throw Jamie Carragher’s status into uncertainty at CBS Sports. If there’s palpable tension behind the scenes, then bosses may consider nudging him out to dodge any more issues.

Speculations are rife, but there has been no official reports regarding the Liverpool legends future with the network.

Micah Richards – is money a key decision-maker?

Back in February, during one of her signature introductions, Scott playfully quipped that Richards would “never take a pay cut” at CBS. The moment was captured and shared by the official CBS TikTok account with the caption: “Micah Richards is NEVER taking a pay cut”, complete with a laughing emoji.

In the video, Richards joked: “You can pay me less CBS, but I want the readies in the front end”, alluding to the hefty signing bonus Kylian Mbappe allegedly received when he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Scott then probed whether Richards had started contract negotiations with CBS, and he replied: “No, no, no, no negotiations just yet. I’ve got 18 months left [on my contract].”

According to Richards’ statement, his current contract with CBS should expire around August 2025, positioning him to potentially renew for several more years as Scott and Henry recently did.

Yet, despite the banter between Scott and Richards about his reluctance to accept a “pay cut” from the network, the former Manchester City star might be heading out unless he secures an extension soon.