Championship giants Aston Villa reportedly wanted Thierry Henry to replace Steve Bruce before he headed back to Ligue 1 giants Monaco.
Dean Smith is a proven Championship manager renowned for his free-flowing attacking football, his willingness to promote youth and his love of Aston Villa football club. So the 47-year-old looked like the obvious first pick as the Midland giants looked for a manager to replace Steve Bruce.
But it seems that Thierry Henry was the man Aston Villa wanted, at least initially.
The Arsenal legend had been looking to get his coaching career off the ground and it seemed for some time that Aston Villa would be the club willing to give him a chance. But, with the decision time looming, Henry took the decision out of Villa’s hands.
According to the Birmingham Mail, the Frenchman rejected the chance to take over in the Midlands – and instead returned to his former club to take over from the massively successful Leonardo Jardim at Monaco.
So far, however, not much has gone right. A 1-0 loss at Reims at the weekend means Henry has not tasted victory since taking over with Monaco level on points now with bottom club Guingamp. And Henry has now launched into an astonishing rant in an attempt to kick his underperforming players squarely up the backside.
“This defeat is more worrying than the previous ones because we did not know how to create in the game and we did not get an opportunity,” Henry told Get French Football.
“Reims practically won all of their duels and played as they should at home. On our side, the desire was not there.
“When you enter the pitch and your players involuntarily refuse to play, it is difficult.”
Dean Smith hasn’t exactly enjoyed a dream start at Aston Villa with the 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers on Friday only his second since taking over.
But you wonder now if Henry feels he made the wrong decision when choosing a giant club embroiled in crisis for his first managerial role.
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