Despite scoring 40 goals this season, Kylian Mbappe continues to face criticism from those who believe his presence can affect the balance of the teams he plays for. Thierry Henry, however, says the issue lies not with the France captain but with how he is used.
Speaking on the RMC programme Rothen s’enflamme, Henry defended Mbappe and said teams can succeed with the forward in their line-up. He believes the responsibility for creating the right combination rests with the manager.
“You can play well with Mbappe, but it depends on the coach finding the best set-up for the team,” Henry said.
“That will be Zinedine Zidane’s task, just as it was Didier Deschamps’ task, and the task of all the coaches who worked with him at Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.”
Henry’s comments, reported by French website Foot Mercato, emphasised the difficulty of building a balanced side regardless of whether Mbappe is involved.
“You have to find the right balance, and that is a difficult job whether Mbappe is there or not,” he added. “Mbappe is not really the problem.”
The former France international pointed to other examples from football to explain why the absence or presence of influential players can create different tactical challenges. In his view, those situations underline the manager’s role in shaping a team and ensuring its various strengths work together.
Henry’s defence of Mbappe comes as debate continues over the striker’s individual influence on collective performances. The discussion is likely to remain prominent as Mbappe approaches a new phase under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane.
