“The last time I had so many rejections was in college”… Thierry Henry bitter about the constraints of putting together his list for the Olympics

Subject to the goodwill of the clubs to release their players for the Olympic football tournament, the coach revealed a pre-list of 25 players which, by his own admission, is likely to experience further upheavals.

It was a fatalistic and slightly tired Thierry Henry who presented himself at a press conference on Monday June 3 to unveil his pre-list of 25 players for the Paris 2024 Olympic football tournament. The coach took a lot of time tweezers, warning the audience that the list he was about to reveal was “the least virtual” possible. The agreement of certain clubs to release their players is still awaited.

The latter have interests to defend knowing that the Olympic tournament will considerably disrupt the preparation for their next season. In addition, they are not technically obliged to comply with the wishes of the French team since the Olympic Games are not a date on the Fifa calendar. This is why Thierry Henry kept repeating that this pre-list was bound to change, perhaps even considerably, between now and July 3, the deadline for sending the names of the 18 players who will represent France this summer. .

Should we understand that the players who are not present in this pre-list, including Kylian Mbappé, have no chance of participating in the Olympics, or are discussions still possible?

Thierry Henry : For Kylian, the people I spoke with were very direct (…). I’m not bashing anyone. Anything can happen until July 3. It’s a bit hard, but we have to be in the reality of the moment. We still have to give a list so that the players, the clubs, and myself can prepare. You don’t close the door to anyone. Discussions ? There are no discussions. You come, you ask, they tell you yes or no, and you leave. The players you don’t see in this list are because the clubs said no. For the moment, I haven’t taken any rejections from French clubs yet, but the last time I took so many rejections was in college.

Are you disappointed and surprised by the behavior of foreign clubs?

No, I’m not disappointed or surprised. The clubs are within their rights. My speech has not changed since I spoke about the Olympics. We knew perfectly well that we were going to wait for answers, hoping that… I expected it, unfortunately. We talk a lot about Kylian (Mbappé), Rayan (Cherki) today, but does it not bother you that there is no Malo Gusto or Benoît Badiashile? Chelsea just left me with Lesley Ugochukwu… You’re kidding, but it’s the truth. The clubs have the power. This might sound pretty cold, but that’s exactly how it happens. I understand the difficulty of releasing a player if he makes the Euro, but I told myself that it was almost certain that some would be there.

In France, how are exchanges with clubs going?

We met by videoconference with all the presidents of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 on December 15. We presented our project to them for the Olympic Games. There was then a small problem, the famous three weeks of vacation [rabotées par la durée initiale du stage de préparation pour les Jeux]. We took a week off. This was one of the first constraints. We talked for two hours and received no further requests. Clubs understood our situation. It was only then that I saw [dans la presse, que certains clubs n’étaient pas d’accord pour libérer leurs joueurs]. At the time there was no problem.

Is the mission of putting together this list more difficult than you imagined when you arrived?

I knew it would be difficult. I am well placed to talk about it, I also played in the youth teams. We talk about me, the list, dates outside Fifa, but normally the French team does not refuse. The focus is often on the A’s, the U23s and the Games, but you have to know that it’s hard at all levels. When you see that my colleague Landry Chauvin (coach of the U20 national team) had to take 33 names for the World Cup last year… It’s up to us too, to know how to protect ourselves.

You have given the identity of two players over 23, are you expecting a third and what would his profile be?

There will be three players over 23, but I couldn’t tell you more today. It’s not easy to find yourself in a situation where you have to ask foreign clubs if they agree. They have the right not to release them because it is not a Fifa date. We’re trying to find ways and believe me it’s not easy… I don’t know if you’ve ever gone to see someone, and not been able to argue.

The summer transfer window is another constraint for you…

I will be as honest as possible. I tried to talk to the players to find out where possibly they would go next season. Many can change clubs, how do you organize yourself, especially if they go abroad? It’s a real debate. This is why I say that this pre-list is the least virtual. Who do you talk to, if there is no club (if the player is under contract with a club that he will leave this summer) ? It’s just impossible to get an idea. Besides, are the players themselves necessarily aware? I ended up with some who have two or three clubs on the table. I am waiting to see. I usually wake up in the morning and see if anything has changed. Maybe, in fact, things will change in 45 minutes…