By Lucas Brown Last updated: 11th November 2008
Henry: Happy at Barca
Thierry Henry has dismissed reports linking him with a return to England and stated that he wants to stay at Barcelona and win the league and cup double.
The French forward has been linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester City in January, but he refuted the stories and reiterated that he is very happy with how things are going at Camp Nou this season.
After a frustrating first term at Barca, Henry now wants to prove himself to the club's fans by becoming a key figure in Pep Guardiola's resurgent side.
"I am very clear about this and I am happy here," he told Catalan television's Hora Q programme. "I do not see myself playing in England.
"I could maybe do some great things in England, but I have not won anything with Barca and I have to stay.
"It is not that I really want the Champions League, it is because I want to win the league and Copa del Rey.
"I am happy, yes. I have said so many times. I like the city, the food and the climate.
"When I put on the Barcelona shirt before going out on to the pitch it is an incredible moment. Last year it was not so incredible, but it was an honour to play."
Henry then admitted that he knows that he cannot demand to play in a more central role in the team, having spent the majority of his time at the club on the wing, because he believes Samuel Eto'o is the best striker in the world.
"I do not want it to sound like an excuse, but we have showed this season that if we play like a team then we can win trophies," he continued. "Having the best players in the world does not guarantee you anything.
"We do have to recognise though, that we do have some of the best players in the world and the best striker in the world in Samuel.
"He is a much better central striker than me and we are fortunate that he stayed.
"It is normal that after what happened last year they were not happy. I was also angry with myself. The fans have to know that we do not go home feeling happy if we have not played well.
"Everyone knew that it was difficult to explain why we did not win anything with the squad that we had, but now we are playing as a team we can change that."
Comparisons are still made between the player that Barcelona have seen and the player that made his name at Arsenal, but Henry wants to seperate the two.
"I do not want to enter into this debate again. At Arsenal that coach asked me to do different things. I used to run in behind the defence and here they want me out wide," he added.
"That is normal and I will do what they want me to in the team. I know that Sam is a stronger forward than me to play there."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
Chris Burton offers up Fantasy Football transfer advice ahead of the resumption of Premier League action.
Ed Chamberlin sees United and Chelsea cancelling each other out on Sunday, while racing feels the freeze.
Paul Merson expects strugglers West Brom and Spurs to lose to Aston Villa and Wigan this weekend.
Paul Ince has told Sky Sports News he is disappointed he did not receive the public backing of Blackburn.
Mark Hughes has received 'tentative enquiries' regarding members of his Manchester City squad.
Lee Bowyer is to join Birmingham City on loan, while Mido is angry at being lined up for a move to Newcastle without his knowledge.
Birmingham have signed West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer on loan until the end of the season.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate insists Stewart Downing should be aiming higher than Tottenham.