Thierry Henry’s coaching odyssey continues with France U21s

PARIS — “What are you doing? This is not what we have asked you to do before the game. You are not executing the gameplan at all.”

Thierry Henry isn’t blissful. It’s half-time of the Cyprus vs. France U21 sport final month, and the younger France gamers are getting an earful from their head coach. Henry is calm. Not loud, however agency and difficult. He’s additionally dissatisfied by his gamers’ obvious disrespect of his sport plan and the prematch directions. You wouldn’t assume that Les Bleuets are main 4-0!

This is Henry, the supervisor. As a coach, he makes it clear he won’t compromise on his concepts, and he won’t be complacent.

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This phrase, “complacency,” is one which comes up so much in our dialog. At a younger age and with out a lot expertise, some gamers would possibly let themselves go a bit.

When it’s straightforward, prefer it was in that first half in opposition to Cyprus, they performed their very own means, assured of their superiority and pondering they’d win no matter whether or not or not they adopted their coach’s sport plan. Henry hated it.

The second half was significantly better, by the best way; France gained 9-0 in the long run. And whereas the 2 halves regarded related when it comes to scoring, they could not be extra totally different when it comes to efficiency.

Henry needs the trouble, not the consequence. When we met, his first query was what I had product of the beginning of his tenure. My reply was that I favored the trouble of his groups throughout matches. “Effort,” the Arsenal and France legend says with his finger pointed up. “This is what I like to hear!

“The most vital factor is what is going on on the pitch as a crew through the video games, and what our intentions are. The outcomes are secondary, and they’re going to probably come as a consequence of what we do collectively with, and with out, the ball.”

In the afternoon following our chat at training, watching him prepare the U21 squad for their trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina is fascinating. The hosts will play with a back five, so the whole session is about finding ways to beat that defence, moving the ball quickly and finding the extra man between the lines.

The training drills have been planned together with his assistants, Gael Clichy, his former France and Arsenal teammate, and Gerald Baticle, the former Auxerre striker and Angers manager. Henry insists what he wants is simple.

“Positional play in a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield and Rayan Cherki because the No. 10, two strikers, a excessive press, and a build-up section in a 3+2 form,” he says.

There was a time in his managerial career, especially at Monaco his first head coaching role from October 2018 to January 2019, when Henry the manager was really still Henry the player. He’d only retired in December of 2014, and perhaps felt he was still better than 99% of those he was coaching. This time, it feels different. He is older — 46 now — and wiser.

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Hearing him give instructions and advice, repositioning players, repeating what he wants, and making the boys start over again when it’s needed, feels just right. He is certainly better equipped tactically, but more than that, he knows what he wants and how to express it.

“I realized a lot from my earlier experiences, at Monaco and at Montreal Impact,” he says. “I’m a distinct individual and a distinct coach. Am I higher? Time will inform, however I really feel prefer it.”

After two-and-a-half years without a top-level coaching job — albeit working as Belgium’s assistant until February 2023 — this felt right for him. There is a very talented France generation at U21 level, with the likes of Lyon playmaker Cherki, Lens forward Elye Wahi, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery [now promoted to the senior side], and the rest.

“I’ve the identical codes as them, the identical language, I come from the identical background as them too,” Henry says. “The connection is there. I wish to educate the gamers so that they get higher of their careers. Teaching them about professionalism, about enchancment. That’s what I like about this position. I would like them to grasp that you need to all the time be demanding, whatever the opposition. I’m attempting to transmit some messages to them and I’m actually having fun with it.”

Just seeing the players say ‘hello’ to him, you can feel the respect, the admiration and the bonds he’s created with them. The way they look at him is telling. You can feel his aura around the squad.

So far, the effort has led to results: wins against Denmark (4-1), Slovenia (4-0), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-1), and Cyprus (9-0), with Austria coming up on Friday and South Korea on Monday. The Olympics will be happening in Paris in 2024 and the Euros in 2025. The Olympics are another reason why Henry is on the bench.

“It will likely be a dream to be a part of that unimaginable expertise. I used to be blissful earlier than, however now I really feel alive,” he says with sparkles in his eyes.

Henry won trophies and accolades at almost every club [Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls] in his glittering career and his aim is no different with this France team: the gold medal in 2024 and to lift the trophy in 2025.

“Of course, it’s a must to win. Even if solely as a result of your messages are simpler to cross on whenever you win.” he says.

This is a job meant to place him again into the conversations when high golf equipment are on the lookout for a supervisor. This is him exhibiting what he can do. So far, the rebirth of Henry the supervisor goes properly.