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Football

28th Sep 2018

Karl Pilkington compares supporting Man United to owning a pet tortoise

Pilkington rose to fame after featuring on Ricky Gervais' XFM radio show, and recently compared supporting United to owning a pet tortoise

Reuben Pinder

It’s hard to argue with his analysis

Karl Pilkington, first made famous for producing Ricky Gervais’ XFM radio show, then for making a fool of himself on holiday, has ventured into football punditry. For tonight anyway.

The man with a ‘head like a fucking orange’ was speaking to Football Focus when he compared supporting Manchester United to owning a pet tortoise.

The comedian, as he is now known, is a Manchester United fan, but admitted that part of him wishes he could change his allegiance, because “City are good, aren’t they?”

“A bit of me now wishes I could change again, because City are good, aren’t they?” Pilkington explained.

“But you can’t, can you? I realise that now as I get older – that it is about being loyal, isn’t it?

“Still, I feel like supporting United is like having a tortoise as a pet. I had a tortoise, and they are not entertaining to watch. You don’t watch them, but you know you have got a bit of responsibility to show some interest.

“That is what I do with United. I keep an eye on them.”

Expectations have dipped significantly since United’s all conquering periods in the 1990s and the 00s, as Pilkington explained that he does not even expect a win anymore.

“I don’t watch them every game because, at the minute, that is a waste of 90 minutes. I just look at the result and if they win it is a bonus, I have no expectations any more.”