A former star of the France national team and the Premier League, Thierry Henry made a clear choice between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid (2-3).
Real Madrid and Manchester City have just come out of a fierce first-leg battle in the Champions League. As in previous editions where the two teams have met, the match was fiercely contested, with numerous chances and also many mistakes, which, for instance, did not please Wayne Rooney. At the end of the encounter, in which Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland—two of the best strikers in the world today—both scored, Thierry Henry delivered a blunt analysis of the match.
Thierry Henry’s clear choice
Speaking to CBS Sports, the English channel where he works as a pundit in his spare time, the former Arsenal Gunners striker was unequivocal in deciding who is the better player between Mbappé and Haaland. According to him, his compatriot is far superior to the Norwegian Cyborg due to his versatility. “Who would I choose? Mbappé, every day. Because he provides or offers different options. For a coach, he can play on the right, he can play on the left, and he can play in the middle,” Thierry Henry initially stated.
To support his choice, the former France U21 manager asked his fellow pundits, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher—both former defenders on the CBS panel—which of the two strikers they would prefer to mark. “Can Haaland play anywhere other than as a number nine? Who would you rather be marking?” he asked. Without hesitation, the two former Premier League defenders pointed to the Manchester City striker, who can only play as a central forward.
Following their responses, Thierry Henry insisted: “Kylian, for me, has more talent. He’s a guy who has been trying to play as a number nine for a year and a half. They tried to make him do it at Paris Saint-Germain, and it didn’t really work. Now he’s doing it at Real Madrid, the biggest club in Europe. He has to adapt to it.” A statement that is likely to fuel the debate, as the Madrid No. 9 continues his impressive season under Carlo Ancelotti.
Mbappé’s incredible turnaround
Having arrived at Real Madrid last summer, the French forward endured a very challenging start. Coming into a team where he no longer had control over the left wing of the attack—his preferred position since his PSG days—the 26-year-old had to work extremely hard to adapt to his new roles. After underwhelming performances in the Champions League, particularly against AC Milan and Liverpool, Kylian Mbappé faced harsh criticism from several football legends. On the same CBS Sports panel, Thierry Henry had previously expressed disappointment over his compatriot’s reluctance to embrace the number nine role.
Eventually, the turning point arrived. Since December, KM9 has become the brilliant striker that football fans had been eager to see. In matches where Real Madrid struggled, the former AS Monaco player managed to stand out with impressive performances, including his display in the Spanish Super Cup final against FC Barcelona. Today, Mbappé is Real Madrid’s top scorer in La Liga. Free from any pressure, he continues to score and, most importantly, play with confidence.
This is undoubtedly a sweet redemption for the 2018 World Cup winner. At this crucial stage of the season, KM9 will need to maintain this form and continue bringing joy to Madrid fans as they compete on multiple fronts. A strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the Bondy native has every chance of claiming the award if he keeps up his current momentum.
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