Former Welsh international Robbie Savage had a 17-year footballing career in England, turning out for the likes of Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County.

Now, at the age of 40, he has established himself as one of the top football pundits in the country and recently signed a deal to join BT Sport as part of their lineup to exclusively cover European football from next season.

BT Sport Europe is the new home of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and Sports Mole was at the launch to talk punditry, Derby's change in manager and more with ex-midfielder Savage.

You must be over the moon to be working on BT's European coverage?

"Absolutely. The vision they've got, the pundits they've got on board. For me to be involved and leave Match Of The Day to join BT was a big thing, but when (senior channel executive producer) Grant Best asked me to be exclusive and commentate on Champions League for BT - where there's a real niche I believe - was a dream come true."

How much are you looking forward to covering European games?

"I've done it before on radio. I've done lots of Champions League as a summariser with 5Live, but obviously it's a bit different on TV. To be at the grounds with (commentators) Darren Fletcher and Ian Darke will be brilliant."

Your pre-match show with Darren, Fletch and Sav, proved popular this season. Will you be doing it on European nights?

"Well I know Fletch and Sav is going ahead again next season, it was very successful this year with some fantastic guests. I'm not quite sure what's exactly going to happen yet, but it's going to be a big part of the channel once again."

One of the unique elements of Fletch and Sav is its informal nature. Why do you think that appeals to people?

"People sometimes say that we try to compete with (Sky Sports') Soccer AM, but we don't. That's its own show in its own right. I think we are a different show with four mates in a room just chatting about football for two hours and that's what makes good pundits - when you've got time you can be better."

"I think people like coming on our show because they don't get 30 seconds or a minute, they have 10, 15, 20 minutes to make their points and I think that's why people love it."

Your often outspoken nature is something that you see quite a lot in American sports coverage. Is it something you try to take from there?

"Well I know Grant Best was very big in America and some of his ideas have been brought from there. Darren Fletcher's a big NBA and NFL fan too, so I think yeah some of the visions Grant had were from that and I'm just glad that it has worked."

Did you always want to be like this when you first got into punditry?

"I just wanted to be myself. I watch pundits who are huge names who don't actually say anything, who just say things for the sake of it and come out with ridiculous comments. Your name will only carry you so far before you have to start producing good analysis.

"I try to back my big mouth up by analysing well and I think I'm honest."

There's plenty of new faces joining you with BT. You must be looking forward to working with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand?

"Well I think what's good about it is the personalities we've got. You know when you go out on a Friday night before Fletch and Sav or before another show, the way we are with each other is like a changing room. That's why I think now BT is the only place to be. Getting the Champions League exclusively is a real game-changer."

Away from punditry, have you ever considered going into coaching and management?

"I would have loved to have been a manager, yeah. I would have, but I've not done my badges. I slightly disagree with having to have your badges to be a manager, but that's the rule, that's the law."

You say would have loved to - have you completely ruled out going down that route now?

"Yeah I have ruled it out now because I just don't have the time to do my badges and all the work with BT."

You finished your playing career at Derby. What do you make of the change in managers with Steve McClaren going to Newcastle and being replaced by former Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement?

"It is bizarre. I love Derby like all my old teams. I think against QPR (in last year's playoff final) they should have won, that was disappointing. They were then one of the favourites for promotion and for them to finish eighth - I think it wasn't acceptable.

"I think it was a bit harsh on him losing his job. I wouldn't say he failed, I would say that for them not to get into the playoffs at the very least this year was a huge disappointment because they should have.

"It was the strongest Championship for a long, long time. There was eight teams there and any of them could have gone up, so for Derby to finish bottom that little league was a massive disappointment.

"The change has now been made. Clement's come in and it's a big, big challenge. He's never been a manager. He's a great coach, but a lot of great coaches don't become great managers. There are exceptions, obviously, and he's got a lot of knowledge having worked with so many great people. I'm excited to see what he can do with Derby."

It hasn't always worked, though, managers coming in from Europe to manage in the Championship. Just how difficult a league is it?

"I don't think he'll know what's hit him. You know he's been involved with PSG, Real Madrid, but now he'll have to go to MK Dons on a cold Tuesday night. The glamour of the Championship certainly isn't like PSG or Real Madrid, so I think it's going to be very difficult and an eye-opener.

"Games come thick and fast but it's a great league and a competitive league. He should be excited."

Do you think Clement will try to mimic the hard-working style of teams like Ipswich Town or employ the galactico nature of Madrid?

"That's the big thing in the Championship, can you do that? You look at some of the teams who have gone up in recent years like Burnley and Bournemouth - spending money in the Championship doesn't always work.

"I think he'll try to get the balance right and will certainly get good backing from (director) Mel Morris who will invest. If you spend say £20m in the Championship that doesn't necessarily get you up. You've got to get the mix just right."

BT Sport Europe is the new home of top European football, with all UEFA Champions League matches and all UEFA Europa League matches exclusively live. Visit btsport.com/europe for more information.