Laura Woods lifts lid on how she prepares for huge Champions League clashes with Beethoven and lavish steak dinner
LAURA WOODS has lifted the lid on how she prepares to present a Champions League game for TNT Sports.
The Telegraph were invited for an exclusive access look at how Newcastle’s trip to PSG was presented from beginning to end on Tuesday.
Woods explained to the paper that her intense preparation for a game actually begins on the way to the match, with the presenter poring over her notes to prepare for the game on the Eurostar from London to Paris on Monday.
Once in the French capital, she was joined by Ally McCoist, Jermaine Jenas, Rio Ferdinand and Becky Ives for a steak dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
She revealed that: “Those social occasions are quite important – just for a little bit of team bonding.”
When Woods got to the stadium, she explained how she was holed up in a makeshift green room by the players’ tunnel with nothing but an iPad, a pair of headphones, Haribos and a Coke Zero for two hours.
Woods said that while making her preparations, she listens to classical music, saying: “No lyrics – and super calming, so I could be trawling through the number of shots Nick Pope blocked vs AC Milan accompanied by Beethoven.
“I just like to get my head in something and be very insular. I’m very boring on the day of the game.”
Woods also told the Telegraph that she feels more “balanced” since leaving her breakfast show role at TalkSPORT in favour of presenting Champions League nights on TNT.
She said: “I feel quite human again – I sleep more, I’m healthier, going to the gym, doing all the things I wanted to do which is really nice.
“[It’s] Definitely more balanced. I’ve always enjoyed work but working too much you enjoy it a little bit less.”
Woods was the lead presenter as Newcastle fell to an agonising 1-1 draw against PSG after a controversial penalty was awarded against Tino Livramento.
The TNT anchor was on hand again to present Manchester United‘s thrilling 3-3 draw against Galatasaray yesterday evening.