2023-08-29 15:00:33
He showed up in the amphitheater of the federation two minutes late. The only microscopic fault of a perfectly successful premiere. For his official presentation as the new Espoirs coach, Thierry Henry made an almost perfect copy. Comfortable, and seeming sincerely happy to find a job, the 98 world champion wanted to be humble and enthusiastic. “I am happy, proud and honored to be there, he launched in the preamble. Singing the Marseillaise again, I did it in front of the TV but no one saw it. I’m happy to wear the rooster on the tracksuit. »
Why did you want to dive back in when you were fulfilled in your role as a consultant?
Thierry Henry. I was fine but I was not fulfilled. I missed what made me vibrate. I was waiting for an opportunity. I needed to coach. Coaching is this feeling of helping and making people understand. The Covid moment changed me managing 4 months a group at the hotel when I was leading Montreal. It forges. The France team cannot be refused, whatever the level. And I love working with young people and talking to them. I’m going back to what I love to do.
How do you envisage a potential association with Kylian Mbappé for the next Olympics?
On the field, it would have been not bad! But in my head, it’s only the match in Nancy against Denmark (September 7 at 6:30 p.m.) then the trip to Slovenia. We have the Olympics. That’s exciting. But I’m not there yet.
“Didier is the boss, it’s simple”
Do you follow the performance of Parisian Warren Zaire-Emery?
I have been for a little while. He impresses me! Especially in terms of physical impact. For having seen the last match (PSG-Lens, 3-1, this Saturday), the way he can recover the ball from the feet of the opponent, I have seen players trying to knock him down and they are them who remained on the ground. It’s just exceptional, we’re happy that he’s French. We will have to take care of him. He is a regular at PSG, that’s already good, for the rest, we’ll see.
If Didier Deschamps, the A coach, asks you for players, how will it happen?
Anything he says, I would say yes. He’s the boss and it’s simple. Everything will be done according to the rules of the art!
How would you define the Thierry Henry style?
Ownership, pressure, delegation, trust, more empathy. You have to be empathetic, listen, put your arm around your shoulder and put water in your wine. I put a lot. After my first experiences as a coach, you had to do your self-criticism, it’s important. We must therefore dialogue. When you are on the bench, you understand differently. And it takes time to put in place what you have in mind. Apart from Guardiola or Zizou, who won straight away, no one is going very fast. And that’s okay.
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