Emmanuel Petit and Thierry Henry were teammates throughout their careers, for Monaco, Arsenal and the French national team.
[ MORE: Henry finished at Red Bulls ]
Upon Henry’s recent announcement that he will not return to the Red Bulls next season, in what many believe is an unofficial retirement, Petit was asked about his favorite memories playing with the striker.
That’s when things get interesting.
Petit launched an absolute ATTACK on the French, saying he had “never seen such arrogant, smug, lying and hypocritical people.”
[ RELATED: Wenger says Henry ‘will come back’ to Arsenal ]
The man who scored in the World Cup Final for France in 1998 shredded his countrymen for not showing more respect and support for Henry, who made over 100 appearances for Les Bleus and is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.In England, they’ve built a statue of Thierry. That means a lot. He is revered there. This bad image [in the French press] of Thierry Henry, it annoys me. What can we reproach Henry for? His handball against Ireland? He helped France qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. He has done nothing. France is hypocritical and cowardly.
In France, he has no collusion with the press, so what? Perhaps because he was not smiling when he scored for Les Bleus. Well, that’s what I hate in this country.
I have great difficulty with the French, I have never seen such arrogant, smug, lying and hypocritical people.”
Wow.
There’s not much more to say about how Petit feels. Give Thierry Henry some more love.