CHAPTER 279: MAN OF THE MATCH: THIERRY HENRY

Though she had only recently entered football to become Manchester City’s Director of Football, Marina Granovskaia had already proven herself a sharp operator—smart, strategic, and far more business-minded than Richard himself. So her response was, naturally, professional and blunt.

"Richard, it’s a tough climate for expansion if we’re thinking about entering Asia right now."

She began listing the obstacles with characteristic precision.

"First, satellite TV is only just beginning to spread in the region. Premier League matches aren’t widely broadcast in East Asia yet. Japan’s J.League is already well-established, but City has no visibility there. We’re starting from zero."

"Second, there are few local sponsors or broadcast deals aimed at that market. That means almost no revenue streams from the region—and launching a campaign out there would be expensive, with little return in the short term."

She paused briefly before delivering the final blow.

"And finally, let’s be honest—our immediate priority is the Premier League. Diverting funds or focus overseas right now would only jeopardize the current campaign. Not to mention the South America scouting project you asked me to investigate."

Faced with the sheer practicality of her reasoning, Richard couldn’t help but be swayed. As much as the idea of breaking into the Asian market intrigued him, the timing simply wasn’t right.

With a reluctant sigh, he nodded.

"Alright... we’ll put it on hold. For now."

Over the next ten days, aside from occasionally tuning in to Olympic highlights—especially keeping an eye Okocha and Nakata—Richard naturaly remained fully focused on Manchester City.

And Manchester City, for their part, delivered emphatically.

In back-to-back league matches, they dismantled both Coventry City and Southampton with ruthless efficiency. The team was clicking. Fluid passing, confident movement, and most importantly—goals.

This season, something particularly interesting unfolded at Coventry City—an internal shift that initially raised eyebrows but ultimately paid dividends.

In early November, veteran manager Ron Atkinson made the surprising decision to step away from the dugout and transition into a Director of Football role. In his place, longtime assistant Gordon Strachan was promoted to first-team manager.

This move was especially noteworthy probably only a few clubs—perhaps only Manchester City—had formally adopted such a structure.

Other major teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool still relied on their chairmen or executive directors to oversee football operations, without appointing a dedicated Director of Football.

But football has a way of defying expectations.

Under Strachan’s guidance, Coventry quickly showed signs of revival. They put together a solid run of form, including an impressive away victory against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane—a result that helped propel Coventry into eighth place in the league standings after six rounds of Premier League action.

But once again, football has a way of defying expectations.

And this time, Manchester City was the reason.

Ronaldo, already burning with hunger after being sidelined in the previous match, returned to the pitch with something to prove—and delivered in spectacular fashion. The Brazilian striker scored a brilliant brace, reminding everyone why he was one of the most lethal forwards in the Premier League.

Not to be outdone, David Trezeguet and Andriy Shevchenko also got on the scoresheet, each netting a goal of their own. With the attacking trio firing on all cylinders, City dismantled their opposition with ruthless efficiency.

After the match against Coventry concluded—marking another solid performance for Manchester City—the timing also coincided with the conclusion of the group stage at the 1996 Olympic football tournament.

Japan’s campaign, though valiant, ended in bittersweet fashion.

Despite winning two of their three matches, Japan failed to progress from Group D.

The cruel reality of tournament football—goal difference—had denied them a spot in the quarterfinals. Nigeria and Brazil, both also on six points, advanced due to their superior scoring margins.

It was a bitter pill to swallow. But for Japanese football, the tournament marked a turning point. The performances, especially from young talents like Hidetoshi Nakata, captured the imagination of fans and analysts alike.

Though he didn’t score, his maturity and control were key in maintaining Japan’s shape and confidence throughout the match.

After Nakata arrived back at Maine Road, Manchester City followed a structured and methodical process to reintegrate him into the squad. He joined a reduced training session, focusing on light technical work and small-sided drills.

After the session, Robertson called him in for a quiet sit-down.

"No pressure," he said. "You’re not fighting for a place. You’ve earned your minutes. We’ll ease you in."

Nakata nodded politely, his voice soft but firm. "I just want to play," he said in broken English, the words simple—but the intent clear.

"I know," Robertson said, patting his shoulder.

Later, after training, the Physical Conditioning Review began. Fevre, clipboard in hand, guided Nakata through a light agility drill and a controlled run.

"He’s a bit heavy-footed," he whispered.

"Jet lag?" Schlumberger asked, watching carefully from the sideline.

"Let him breathe," Fevre replied. "He’s only just touched down twelve hours ago."

The next fixture after Coventry City saw Manchester City welcome Southampton to Maine Road.

Southampton, often labeled perennial relegation battlers, had narrowly escaped the drop the previous season—finishing 17th, avoiding relegation by the slimmest of margins: goal difference alone.

Under manager Graeme Souness, the Saints were still struggling to find rhythm. Their squad boasted a few bright sparks—like the mercurial talents of Matthew Le Tissier—but overall, they lacked cohesion. The defense was leaky, the midfield disjointed, and goals were hard to come by.

Coming into their clash with City, Southampton sat near the bottom of the table, desperately seeking points to spark their campaign into life. But at Maine Road, they would face a City side riding high on momentum and cohesion, with a well-oiled attacking machine that had just dismantled Coventry with ruthless efficiency.

In this match, the Man of the Match turned out to be a surprising figure—the recently recovered Thierry Henry.

Just days earlier, Henry had been left out of the squad against Coventry City after a nasty collision with the goalpost left him briefly concussed. The medical team had advised caution, and Robertson wasn’t willing to take risks.

But this time, with Henry cleared fit and hungry to play, Robertson made a bold call—starting him in the front three alongside Ronaldo and Shevchenko in a fluid 4-3-3 setup.

Henry was placed in the center for the first time as the lone striker—and he did not disappoint.

He constantly peeled into the half-space between the full-back and center-back, exploiting Southampton’s defensive gaps with sharp movement and intelligent runs. His pace and dribbling caused havoc, drawing fouls, opening lanes, and dragging defenders out of position—freeing up Ronaldo and Shevchenko to do damage.

But it wasn’t just his off-ball work that stood out.

In the 31st minute, he received a diagonal pass from Capdevila, cut inside with one touch, and curled a precise finish past the goalkeeper.

The crowd at Maine Road roared to their feet.

The second goal, however, was something truly special—one that would be talked about long after the final whistle.

It came midway through the second half, during a spell when City were firmly in control but still pushing for a cushion. Henry, brimming with confidence after his first goal, took it upon himself to create something from deep.

This time, with Ronaldo having drifted into midfield, Henry instinctively filled the central gap left behind, while Shevchenko slid into the channel Henry had just vacated. It was fluid, intelligent rotation—seemingly chaotic, but entirely by design.

He appeared to be out of position. But it was no accident. He was baiting Matt Le Tissier, who had dropped back to help cover the space. As Lampard played a crisp pass into Henry’s feet, the Maine Road crowd buzzed in anticipation.

Le Tissier stepped forward to meet him—but Henry had already calculated the move.

With his first touch, he let the ball roll across his body, drawing Le Tissier in. Then, with an effortless flick of his heel, he pulled the ball behind his standing leg, sending Le Tissier lunging the wrong way.

Richard erupted with excitement. Without a doubt, this would hammer Southampton’s confidence—after all, Le Tissier was their spiritual leader on the pitch.

One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Henry showed no sign of panic. He slowed just enough to feint a shot with his right, freezing the keeper, before coolly slotting the ball inside the near post with his left.

It was a goal made of swagger and silk—equal parts technique, intelligence, and audacity.

As he jogged toward the corner flag, arms wide in celebration, Maine Road rose to its feet in full voice. Even Richard, up in the director’s box, couldn’t hide his grin.

By the final whistle, Henry had not only scored twice but also assisted Ronaldo’s late goal—capping off a performance that earned him thunderous applause and the Man of the Match honors.

2 goals and 1 assist!