THIERRY HENRY insists Ruud van Nistelrooy was the only “obsessed” one in their famous, five-year Golden Boot battle – as the Arsenal legend gave up penalties to team-mates.
Van Nistelrooy’s then-Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand revealed the striker’s post-match mood often depended on whether he and/or Henry had scored.
Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy was focused on goals but Thierry Henry says his record proves he was notCredit: PA:Press Association
Thierry Henry says he let team-mates take penalties and often set up goals when he was well placed to shootCredit: AP:Associated Press
But Dutchman Van Nistelrooy finished as the Premier League’s top marksman just once, in 2002-3, whereas French World Cup winner Henry took the honour the season before and in the three terms afterwards.
And Henry claims his overall record shows he was a team player first, goal-seeker second.
Asked in an Instagram Live session with Puma if he too was “obsessed” with the award, the ex-Barcelona star offered firm evidence in his denial.
Henry, 42, said: “It became a story between me and him because it was always him or me [for the Golden Boot].
I used to give penalties away!… and I would not have all those assists if I was only thinking about the Golden Boot.
Thierry Henry
“But I don’t know if you remember I used to give penalties away – I used to give penalties away.
“When Edu played his last game for Arsenal and I was battling with Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Golden Boot I gave him the penalty.
“If you look at the number of my assists I gave in the game and sometimes I was in front of the goal and I squared it that would answer that question [about being obsessed].
“I would not have all those assists if I was only just thinking about the Golden Boot.”
Henry amassed 175 goals and 74 assists in 258 Prem games for Arsenal from 1997-2007 – that’s 0.68 strikes per match.
Ex-PSV Eindhoven poacher Van Nistelrooy netted 95 times and provided 13 assists in 150 Prem games for United from 2001-6 before joining Real Madrid – a match average of 0.63 goals.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
