Monaco's King Henry aims to rule like Pep
THIERRY HENRY says he wants to boss it like Pep Guardiola.
The ex-Arsenal star, 41, has just stepped into management at his former club Monaco.
But even though he played his best football under Arsene Wenger in eight years with the Gunners, it is the two he spent under Guardiola at Barcelona, which made the biggest impression. “Pep is the reference, for me, I’m not saying for everyone,” said the French superstar, who played for the current Manchester City boss at the Nou Camp from 2008 to 2010.
“We learnt how to play the game when I went to Barcelona under him. With Pep you can talk about the game.
“He will not even go to sleep and will still talk about the game, you will fall asleep and he’s still talking.
“The invention he had in the game; he’s well ahead of the game, I saw it closely.
“You learn from people; they inspire you. But you also need
to put your own little mix in it.”
Henry played under Wenger at Arsenal from 1999 to 2007 before returning for a brief loan spell in 2012.
He finished as the club’s greatest-ever goalscorer with 228 and says that although Guardiola is his inspiration, Wenger “unlocked a lot of stuff in my mind.
“He made me understand what it was to be a professional, what it was to perform.
“I will never forget that. You know the relationship I had with him so I will always carry some of the stuff that he was doing.”
Henry left his role as assistant to Belgium boss Roberto Martinez to return to his first club at the weekend, having also been wanted by Aston Villa.
“When the offer came it was quite logical; my heart talked,” added Henry, ahead of his first game in charge at Strasbourg on Saturday.
“You know the connection I have with one club in London, but this is where I started. This club will always have a big place in my heart.
“So to be able to come here and start here again is a dream come true.
“There’s a lot of work to do, as you can imagine, but I’m more than happy to be here.”