Pundit takes aim at Sheffield United promotion celebrations in bizarre Olympics rant

Sheffield United received their trophy and medals this afternoon for finishing second in the Championship this afternoon, after signing off their home season with a 4-1 victory over Preston North End.

Goals from Anel Ahmedhodzic, John Fleck, Iliman Ndiaye and Oli McBurnie saw United finish in fine style, despite Liam Delap equalising at 1-1 for the visitors.

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After the game United were presented with the runners-up trophy and their medals - but pundit Paul Merson wasn’t happy with the prospect. The former Arsenal and England man was watching on on Soccer Saturday and embarked on a bizarre rant about the Olympic Games and not winning a trophy there for finishing second.

“What’s the trophy for? I got in the final of the table tennis at Butlins and I didn’t get anything, I got beat in the final. Why should they get anything?” Merson raged.

“How can you get a trophy for second? Give them a medal for second but not a trophy. A trophy is for the winner! It’s brilliant to go up, but come on. You don’t get a trophy for finishing second in the Olympics and that’s like the ultimate ultimate.

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“They came second in the league and get a trophy? You don’t get a trophy for finishing second in the Olympics, that you’ve worked for for four years. I can’t, I can’t.”

Of course, not even winners at the Olympics receive trophies but gold medals. United, incidentally, were the first side to receive a commemorative keepsake for winning automatic promotion behind the title winners from the newly-rebranded Championship, when they received a silver shield on the Bramall Lane pitch in 2005/06 after sealing their place in the Premier League.

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