Henry: Anger spurs me on
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has revealed that he is driven by anger.
Thierry Henry has revealed that he is driven by anger, and warned Barcelona that he is ready to release his rage in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final.The Arsenal forward has delighted fans the world over with his flamboyant brilliance, but he insists the way he plays is a product of a tough background.
Henry explained that his attitude on the pitch was instilled at a young age, and added that he would be a shadow of the player he was without passion.
"I'm always driven by anger and desire," he said. "Everything comes from my dad - my spirit, my desire, my commitment.
"My father taught me never to be satisfied with what I have and now that is my philosophy. It's my way and that's why I have reached this far and why I'm playing the football I am at the moment.
"People are scared of anger and sometimes they give me aggro about the way I am out on the pitch. But I'm not afraid to use my anger in a positive way.
"It's the anger factor. If you don't have it any more you might as well stay at home."
Henry believes that all the best players use the fire within to inspire them to greater performances.
"You see the same thing when you watch Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho," he observed.
"When I see those two I see a player from the streets. Everyone talks about Ronaldinho smiling all the time but inside there are no smiles.
"You can't teach that. You have to have it inside you - and it comes from the way you've been brought up from a difficult background.
"There is no better school than the streets. That's where you learn your toughness."
Henry is also calling on his memories from 1998 to spur him on against Barcelona, after he missed out on France's World Cup final against Brazil.
Returning to the Stade de France in his native Paris, Henry will be hoping for the same victorious outcome, but also to make a telling contribution.
"I was supposed to play in the World Cup final against Brazil," he reflected.
"The idea was that I would come on 10 minutes into the second half, but then Marcel Desailly got sent off and suddenly the whole game plan changed.
"Barcelona and Arsenal have the players to put on a great show," he added.
"But the result is what really matters."
