Thierry Henry reflects on his experience as coach of Montreal Impact

At the end of a challenging year due to the pandemic, Thierry Henry reflected on what he has learned "on a human level" in his first season leading Montreal in the MLS, which he says "is not as easy as people think."

QUESTION: The MLS season was modified due to the pandemic, forcing most of the games to be played in the United States. What difficulties did you face in your first season as coach of Impact Montreal, which changed its name to CF Montreal?

ANSWER: "It was not always easy to manage because there were times when the team was isolated, far from their families. When you train and can go home, even during a period of COVID, like in the French championship (it's manageable), but we had to play away and at times it's not always easy mentally. The dilemma was: if you go home, you don't train. If you stay in New Jersey, you practice, but you don't see your family. The important thing is that we achieved what we wanted, the playoffs. Unfortunately, we didn't go far in the playoffs, but good things came out of it: dedication, the desire to win despite the difficulties."

Q: Your coaching experience in Monaco lasted only three months, but in Montreal you completed a full season. Do you feel that you have progressed and learned a lot, in what area?

A: Yes, a lot on a human level. Football is still a team sport, but there is a lot of individualism from time to time. It's true that you always think about yourself, about your own bubble, and everything that has happened this year led to many people opening up, many things happening in life, not just in sports. I am learning every day, but on a human level, this year has been very important to understand a little more about the players and know what goes through their minds."

Q: You knew the MLS as a player thanks to your time with the New York Red Bulls (2010-2014). How do you judge the level of this championship in 2021?

A: "It is a growing league, it is only 25 years old, very young. It is not as easy as people think. I have seen many great players. Here, Europeans come who have not done well. (...) Now, fighting against history is not easy. There are championships that have 150 years of history, 120, 100, we cannot compare that with 25 years of history. It is growing, clearly it has improved in terms of facilities, players from the Mexican league, or much younger players from Europe and other places."

Q: There is a rumor that your former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi could go to New York. Do you believe it?

A: "I don't like to speculate (...) If he talks about it, it's because he has to consider it. It would be extraordinary for the MLS."

Q: Do you believe that the French national team has a chance to win the European Championship? And Olivier Giroud (44 goals) to surpass Thierry Henry as the top scorer for the national team (51)?

A: "Olivier knows what I think of him, we talk quite often (...) The French team is the reigning world champion, it lost the Euros (in the final) before. It is a team with Didier Deschamps as always, well led (...) I hope they win this Euro. I played football, there is nothing 100% certain, so I always say I hope." AFP