Thierry Henry was at a press conference this Monday afternoon to discuss the gathering with the French Olympic team for the 2024 Olympics. The coach was notably questioned about the difficulties he encountered in making the list for the Games.
When he had just sat down in his seat to begin the press conference, Thierry Henry immediately took the floor to anticipate questions about the political situation in France:
Thierry Henry : “Before we begin, I know where we are definitely going to go in this press conference. I agree with everything that has been said before about politics. I’m not going to go any deeper into the debates. What can stop the extremes is going to vote. So go vote! Personally, I am against everything that divides, and for what can unite.
I also have another message: Mr. Jean-Pierre Hureau has died, I wanted to pay tribute to him, someone I knew, extraordinary. We have lost an emblematic figure of French football. A big thought to his family. »
Thierry Henry: “I walk with my phone, because you never know if someone is leaving or will arrive”
Do you think it was going to be that hard to make the list for this gathering?
” Yes I knew it. To experience it is something different. This was not easy, especially after the list. Clubs have the right to say no, so it becomes difficult for the players. I walk with my phone, because you never know if someone is leaving or will arrive. It’s the truth. Until you get to the first day, you’re still waiting. There was the first training this morning, it’s always better than being on the phone and knowing ‘you can’ or ‘you can’t’. The players are there and are in a good mood. We also have to go for the gold medal, that’s always the priority. You start to forget the tactics, the medal, because you have to concentrate on the list. Being here is better anyway. »
Are there other positions where you are expecting players or rejections?
“The takedowns happened behind (defense). We targeted Loïc Badé to be able to replace Maxime Estève, we didn’t think it was going to happen. A Burnley player was injured, so the club recalled him. It wasn’t easy, we made a lot of calls. We reached an agreement with Loïc. »
Also read: Loïc Badé replaces Maxime Estève
Why did you initially take players, whose club positions were more or less known (PSG, Lille, Bayern Munich, etc.)
“When the list was announced there had not yet been a no. We spoke with the French clubs in December 2023, and no one highlighted any problems. When you don’t qualify straight away for the Champions League, some clubs didn’t think their players would end up at the Euro either… We stuck with what happened in December. »
“Alexandre Lacazette? I saw him clearly, he was happy to be there.”
Thierry Henry, at a press conference.
How did Alexandre Lacazette’s return to Clairefontaine go?
“I saw it clearly. There was always a weird history between him and the A’s, I won’t go into details. He was happy to be there, to be able to prepare and go for the gold medal. Any twists and turns concerning him? I had a discussion with him, which will remain between him and me. »
Can the current political climate have an impact on your group?
“We haven’t had a discussion (on this subject) yet. You have a way to ask them (the players). We are here to prepare, to play a tournament. If it can galvanize them? Everyone has their own vision of things. We have a group and we will focus on the tournament. »
“Clairefontaine is practically my entire childhood.”
Thierry Henry, at a press conference.
How does it feel to return to Clairefontaine?
“We can think back to 1998… the famous list, that famous day, those famous mornings when we had to go jogging, training at 10 a.m. and in the afternoon. Try to make a difference so that people notice you. When I arrived yesterday, I said to myself ‘yes, we’ve been there’. Now, as a coach, unless there is a problem, I should be on the bench (laughs). It brought back memories, it’s practically my entire childhood. »
Thierry Henry: “It was quite easy to convince Lacazette”
Despite the unavailability, are you satisfied with the list construction? Do you have an idea of what you want to see on the ground?
“Yes, it was difficult, because you want to create a list based on how do you want to play. You also have to adapt to the no’s and see how you can readjust your way of playing: doubles, who can play with whom, trying to have a group, who know each other to be able to save time…
When we made the pre-list, I spoke to you, for example, about Malo (Gusto). I only had him twice, we saw what he could do and what he brings offensively. Unfortunately, he can’t come. You need to rethink what you need to do. Having the list means you can move forward on other things. Not knowing if a guy is going to leave or not, it becomes difficult for the coach. A lot of things can change tactically. »
How are the players physically?
“This morning, it was really cool: a little jog, touching the ball, muscle strengthening. This afternoon, we’re going to hit the ball and it’s going to go up little by little. If a player got injured after what we did this morning… (laughs). »
How did the contact with Alexandre Lacazette go?
“Yes, it was quite easy to convince him. He had a few questions, and that was normal and legitimate. When he understood the magnitude of what could happen, going for an Olympic gold medal in France is still quite important. From then on, it was easy. »
“Rayan Cherki?” On the bench or not, every time he came on, he made the difference.”
Thierry Henry, at a press conference.
How did you handle the Rayan Cherki case
?
He wasn’t on the list at the rally before. If you look at the first list, it’s just normal and when players disappear, it’s normal for Rayan to come back. What I like about him, he likes the selection and football. On the bench or not, every time he came on, he made the difference. We did not hesitate to call him back, we know what state of mind he will be in. There are choices, players ahead. A player like Barcola disappears, Rayan arrives…”
: Initially not called up in the pre-list, Rayan Cherki took advantage of the unavailability of Bradley Barcola, blocked by Paris Saint-Germain, to join the group.
Also read: Rayan Cherki, Andy Diouf and Chrislain Matsima finally called up
Kylian Mbappé announced this Sunday that he was not released by Real Madrid to play in the 2024 Olympics…
“It has always been zero, nothing will happen with the Real Madrid players. We didn’t know he was officially going to Real Madrid. I knew they weren’t going to come. We tried, but, personally, I took a sharp “no”. »
Thierry Henry: “Guillaume Restes becomes number 1 again”
What are you going to do this evening with your group during France’s match (against Austria, 9 p.m.)?
“Watch the game and support them. We tried to watch the other matches, that’s good, it will allow them to watch together, hoping to start well. That the Blues win is what is most important. »
Guillaume Restes should be the number 1 starter during the 2024 Olympics.
Guillaume Restes should be the number 1 starter during the 2024 Olympics.
Have you decided on the captaincy?
“It’s not decided yet. We will talk about it with the staff and see how things develop. »
“His desire to play with the France team should be highlighted. (…) If he had chosen England, Michaël Olise could have gone to the Euro. »
Thierry Henry, at a press conference.
Do you plan to use Michaël Olise in the middle?
Injured during part of the season, Michaël Olise burst onto the scene with Crystal Palace.
Injured during part of the season, Michaël Olise broke out with Crystal Palace, allowing him to be called up by Thierry Henry for the 2024 Olympics.
Since your arrival, you have used numbers 10 (Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki)… “What is important is to be able to combine in attack. When you look, teams play with wide wingers and a number nine. This nine finds itself facing two, even three stoppers. Where is he helped in this case? Even if he manages to turn around, there is always a surplus.In my time it was a 4-4-2, each defender managed his attacker. It is still important to combine straight away and fairly quickly. In the environment, there is the presence of Manu Koneof Joris Chotardof Lesley Ugochukwu of
Khephren Thuram
… I have a fairly clear idea of how we are going to evolve. »
Thierry Henry: “I don’t think about my future”
Do you see yourself in the post-Olympic period?
“Personally, I don’t think about my future. With the staff and the group, we set our sights on the gold medal. I don’t think about the contract. We set ourselves a challenge, which can be done. When we look at the last teams to win the Olympics, it’s often South America and Africa, we’re going to try to change that. »
Jean-Philippe Mateta is called up by Thierry Henry for the 2024 Olympics, after a big season with Crystal Palace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is called up by Thierry Henry for the 2024 Olympics, after a big season with Crystal Palace.Follow the latest news from the 2024 Olympics on our Twitter account and on our website!
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