Barcelona´s Guardiola expecting a lot from Henry

AFP - 14 July 2008 17:40

Barcelona´s new coach Josep Guardiola said he is expecting a lot from Thierry Henry, seen here in May 2008, after a mixed first season for the French striker at the club.

MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona's new coach Josep Guardiola said on Monday he is expecting a lot from Thierry Henry after a mixed first season for the French striker at the club.

"I expect a lot from Henry. I spoke to him and I know that the first year has not been easy but I have a lot of faith in what he can bring to the team," Guardiola told a news conference.

"I want to make him an important player, and Bojan (Krkic) as well," he said, referring to the 17-year-old Serbian-born Spanish striker.

Guardiola said he would try to play Henry - who had a miserable Euro 2008 just managing one goal in their three matches before they went out in the first round - in the centre of the attack, rather than on the left.

Barca's Dutch former coach Frank Rijkaard had played Henry on the left, rather than in his preferred position in the centre.

The French international striker joined Barcelona at the end of last season after years of success at Arsenal in the English Premier League but he has struggled to nail down a regular first team place.

The Catalan side meanwhile failed to win a trophy for the second straight year, and Rijkaard was sacked in May and replaced with Guardiola.