Former Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has said that while people continue to digress Real Madrid’s performance against Manchester City, it must be remembered that defending is a part of the game.
Real Madrid once again showed why the UEFA Champions League is their speciality, having eliminated the reigning champions and title favourites Manchester City.
Although Manchester City were better in terms of statistics, Real Madrid rose to the challenge and proved they were ready to compete for their 15th European Cup.
Real Madrid’s progression to the semi-finals sparked discussions among football enthusiasts, including former players.
Many shared their thoughts on the events that took place on Wednesday night and one notable voice was Henry, who serves as an analyst for CBS Sports.
He offered his take on the quarterfinal match, providing insight into the game. "There is something called defending. You can also control the game by defending well," said the former forward as quoted by AS.
"I know people will say Manchester City were the better team, but defending is part of the game."
"Real Madrid defended very well and I think the best team, the one that defended well, went to the semifinals," he added.
Henry commended Carlo Ancelotti’s leadership and strategic approach, highlighting Real Madrid’s victory as a product of their strong defensive performance.
He noted that this was evident in Erling Haaland’s struggles, as he could not score due to the solid marking from Antonio Rudiger and Nacho in the central defence.
The former Arsenal forward also emphasized that while Manchester City might have had stronger individual players, Real Madrid’s cohesive and effective defensive play ultimately led to their win on the scoreboard.
This collective effort in defence played a pivotal role in securing the victory for Madrid.