LIGUE 1 - Henry on Mbappé: “Let’s be glad that we have a player who is second to none.”

Speaking to Le Journal du Dimanche, former France striker and now-pundit Thierry Henry notably praised Kylian Mbappé following his four-goal performance against Kazakhstan. The former Arsenal also defended his fellow striker following the criticism he received from certain fans in France over his summer transfer saga.

Henry also discussed Mauricio Pochettino’s efforts at Paris Saint-Germain, defending the Argentine’s lack of clear playing style thus far.

“It’s a bit obvious, but Kylian and I both came through Clairefontaine, we’re from the Parisian suburbs, we started at Monaco, and there’s our style of play. I’m not comparing myself to him, I hate that, but he’s a player who I really like. When he’s direct, he’s impossible to stop.”

“Mbappé is a forward who can play across the attack. He can’t be pigeonholed. I have a hard time understanding why he was criticised so much in France. What happened at the start of the season bothered me because he had always been professional. Let’s be glad that we have a player who is second to none.”

“Without wanting to make excuses for Mauricio Pochettino, when so many players arrive late [for the start of the season], you don’t have time to work with them when you’re playing every three days. They are going off on international duty whenever you might have the time, it’s not easy to find a style of play. At Barcelona, you have to follow something because there’s a history. Rinus Michels was there, then Cruyff came along… Pochettino is looking for a system and 11 players to play in it.”