Injured Thierry Henry highlights some of Barca's problems.


FC Barcelona’s French national team strike sensation, Thierry Henry has agreed that a lot needs to be done in Barca with regards finding the best way to unlock packed defenses especially at away games. Barca suffered yet another blow yesterday night against Valladolid who simply sealed off their defence and could even have won the match in addition to zoning out Barca’s strike force that was largely handicapped with the likes of Thierry Henry absent. About the pattern of play which more and more clubs are beginning to discover is a frustration for the Blaugrana strikers, Henry says:

We need to do better against our opponents when they pack up their defence. You play against a side such as Almeria or Rangers and it's a problem. It becomes difficult when you play against any side with tactics that emphasize on all-round defensive play.

Thierry goes on to speak on the general pattern in Barca and how the players are trying to adapt to the huge expectations from fans as well as playing against stubborn defences. The former Arsenal star also talks on his struggles to adapt to the Blaugrana’s football style as well:

When you play for good teams people aren't happy when you don't get a result and I can tell you the players aren't happy either. The football doesn't have to be to my taste. That's how Barcelona play and sometimes you feel frustrated but that’s what adapting to new club entails. It's normal that people aren't patient. Against Rangers with the score at 0-0 we all wanted to do something and could not. A player such as myself, Lionel or Ronnie all want the ball. It is a tough decision for the midfielders. That's it. I won't come back to that discussion any more. I have to adapt.

There are indications that Thierry Henry will be missing more of FC Barcelona’s matches after the scorer has finally put a stop on over-labouring his injured ankle. Henry picked up an ankle injury while playing for his country France against Lithuania in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, and has secretly struggled to play ever since, forcing himself to remain relevant to Barca’s campaign:

I have played the past three games with an Achilles injury, picked up with France against Lithuania. But still I wanted to play against Villarreal, Rangers and Almeria. I'm feeling way better but I'm not right coming out of a dribble and I'm missing a bit of speed in the last 20 minutes.