Officially presented this Tuesday as the new coach of the French U21 national team, Thierry Henry explained the reasons behind his choice.
“I am happy and honored to be here. Proud to sing the Marseillaise again. I am very much French, content to be so, and happy to wear the rooster. Leading the U21s is not easy; generations change every two years, clubs take priority, the best players move up… and that’s normal,” he first announced to the press, as relayed by Footmercato.
As a prominent pundit for Prime Video, Thierry Henry had regained favor among the French audience for his analyses on Ligue 1 matches. However, he asserts that he wasn’t fulfilled and had the desire to return to the field and competition. “I wasn’t fulfilled. I love being on the field, I was waiting for an opportunity. I had other prospects where I learned. I will continue to be a pundit, but not on Prime Video. I wanted to coach; I have this feeling of contributing. I was fine, but not fulfilled. I had the chance to coach the French team, and you don’t turn that down. It obviously tipped the balance. I enjoy working with young players,” he added.
He goes on to explain his primary objective with his new team: “I have difficulty understanding what happened in Japan. There, it was the Olympics. You don’t turn that down, you can’t turn that down. But we’ll need to discuss with the clubs and the players. I understand everyone’s positions. The U21s are seen as a ‘punishment selection.’ We will create a spirit so that players are happy to come.”
He adds: “We don’t always have the same squad between two consecutive gatherings. Coming to the U21s is not a punishment. It’s a selection that should be honored; you represent something. But it’s been a long time since we won. If that’s the case, there’s a problem, and we’ll try to solve it.”
Lastly, Thierry Henry explained his presence with the French U21 team, following a failed stint at AS Monaco and 28 matches with the Montreal Impact in the MLS. “There are always doubts; I understand this question. Monaco, it’s a bit tough to succeed in two months. The question is legitimate; there are always doubts about a coach or a player. I had another experience in Montreal where we managed to make the playoffs in that (COVID) situation. We’ll do everything to perform,” he stated. One thing is certain: Henry will need to perform better on the sidelines of the U21s.
