Henry would like to see his U23 team progress and win by increasing the number of tactical tests. But the period is complicated by numerous absences and there is no question of him creating relational problems with the clubs, while he will need their authorization to constitute his list of 18 for the Paris Olympic Games this summer.
“Have you heard from Bradley Barcola, who injured his hamstring on Friday against Ivory Coast?
He returned to his club (Paris SG). I’m not a doctor. I don’t comment. I stay in my zone. It’s annoying (these injuries) because we’re careful. There was no alert concerning him. It’s a shame for him and his club. We know what’s happening this weekend (OM-PSG) and what comes after (The Champions League).
And Arnaud Kalimuendo ?
He arrived with a calf problem. He had two or three more days to recover. He is better and should participate in the match. In the meantime, we had a lot of problems. Preparation is difficult. We lost (Joris) Chotard, (Georgino) Rutter, “Barco”, Malo (Gusto). Leny (Yoro) fell ill on Saturday evening, Enzo Millot this Sunday morning. This is not obvious.
We play tomorrow and we tried to call two or three players as reinforcements, without mentioning names. They are on the weekend or they have not trained for two or three days. We are not going to take any risks at this level. We are preparing for certain players to be able to play both matches (Ivory Coast on Friday and United States on Monday). It’s not ideal but this virus (flu) is falling on us. We will make a decision on Monday for Yoro and Millot. Are we going to kill guys so they won’t feel good afterwards? We know that Leny has a big match on Friday (Lille-Lens). You have to think about all this.
How do you see this American adversary?
It’s going to be a different kind of football. Ivory Coast (3-2 victory) gave us a lot of problems. Having played in MLS, there is a lot of physical activity in the American game, it quickly goes into counter-attack. People have laughed about American football for a long time but I can tell you that it’s not easy, MLS. There are very good young people. There are MLS champions on this team, there are players who play on good teams. Some players are not far from the A. They can play with five at the back, or in 4-4-2. There are many tactical changes possible. They have good players who can eliminate up front.
I follow this team a lot because my former assistant was champion with Colombus (Wilfried Nancy). (Aidan) Morris is a very good player. All of this will have to be overcome. You should not think that this is going to be easy. In addition, when a team faces the French team, it does not play the same as against another team.
You took responsibility for the first failure against Ivory Coast but couldn’t the players have done more, despite everything?
Yes and no. I had to find a system so that the players sometimes found themselves in numerical superiority, or at least one against one, and I couldn’t do it for an hour. So I told them in the locker room that it was for me. Afterwards, yes, if you don’t win your duels it becomes difficult in any system.
You are dependent on the authorization of clubs to release their players for the Olympics but can we nevertheless say that they are playing for their place in the Olympic list in these two matches against Ivory Coast and the United States?
Yes obviously, but not only that. There is what they are going to do with their clubs and how they are going to finish the season. Nothing is acquired for anyone. They’re going to have to show what there is to show on Monday night. It goes that way. For them, players, the quest for selection in the list does not stop there, but for us (staff) it will stop there. We’re going to watch their club matches of course, we’re going to try to see everyone but we only had two matches left to try things and that’s why I tried things against Ivory Coast. I’m not crazy, you have to try to see if you can put players in certain conditions to play in another way, and you have to do it on the job.
Will Lucas Chevalier remain your captain in the future?
He has potential. But it will depend on who will come and who will not come (to the Olympics). Tomorrow (Monday), Manu (Koné) will be captain. Lucas will not play, I told you that I was not there to kill people (Chevalier also plays Lille-Lens on Friday). We’ll see who plays and what we can do. We are not here to return injured or sick players to their clubs. We have to deal with that. »
