“I thought it was over”, the touching confession of Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry has entered the hearts of the French a little further. Coach of the French Olympic team during the Paris Games, the 98 world champion led his team to the second step of the podium. Despite this defeat in the final against Spain (3-5, ap), “Titi” these Olympics will remain forever engraved in his memory.

“When I took charge of the Espoirs, I was not fulfilled as a coach, revealed the former Arsenal legend during a lengthy interview with GQ magazine.
I was convinced that I could lead a group but I hadn't done it yet. Now I've checked that box and I'm more relaxed. It's probably a little selfish, but I needed to prove it to myself. But hey, let's calm down. I didn't win the Champions League either. »

Henry: “I didn’t think I could reconnect like that with the French public”

Marked for life by this experience, Thierry Henry was touched by the communion with the public. “ The moment when the Parc des Princes spontaneously sang La Marseillaise while the players took the podium will forever be engraved in my memory, he confessed. I felt an extraordinary cohesion. We didn't win but people identified with this team. The Olympics reminded us that we have a magnificent country, with diversity, and that it is a strength. When no one complains, France is an extraordinary country, all the same…”

Far from being unanimous in France when he was a player, Thierry Henry did not think he would be able to reconcile with the French supporters. “ I've experienced a lot in my career: a World Cup final won and another lost, a Champions League final lost and another won, Euro 2000, championship titles… But honestly, I didn't think I could reconnect like that with the French public. I thought it was over”confided the former Monaco coach, who left his junior post after the Paris Games, in search of a new challenge.