Thierry Henry has stated that Celtic Park and Liverpool’s Anfield are ‘the loudest’ stadiums he has played at after fiery scenes in Marseille on Tuesday night in the Champions League, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (01/11/22 at 7:20 pm).
Marseille fans welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to the Stade Velodrome by lighting up fireworks the night before the game and partying outside their hotel from one until four in the morning, as mentioned by European football expert Guillem Balague
That intimidating atmosphere continued before kick-off and during the game, but it wasn’t enough for the Ligue 1 side to progress through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, as Antonio Conte’s men secured a stunning 2-1 win.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry would have played in many hostile environments during his career, including at the Stade Velodrome in 1998 for France’s World Cup opener.
He was discussing the scenes in France yesterday and how players don’t really get to see much of what happens before matches because they aren’t on the ground alongside the fans.
But when the players enter the stadium, it’s then a different matter, as he gave Liverpool and Celtic fans their flowers when talking about the scenes in Marseille last night.
“As a player, we have spoken about it before, you almost don’t see that,” said Henry. “What Guillem (Balague) is doing, mingling with the fans, we don’t as players. We go, we are on the bus and sometimes you have rocks thrown at you. I’m not saying it happened at Marseille, then you go and play the game. The stadium is loud.
“I used to love playing away from home. I used to think, if you are singing that loud if you are saying whatever you are saying, and I am not repeating what people say sometimes when you play away, then it’s because you are scared. You are scared of us. I used to take it like that. Marseille is a pretty special place for that. Everyone knows that in France.
On one of the loudest stadiums he has been to: “I have to so say, since they closed it, (Marseille’s stadium), I didn’t play in it, since they closed it. It used to be open. I played there for the national team. It was outstanding.
“I have said it so many times, passing my beloved stadium Highbury and stuff. But the loudest was Anfield and Celtic Park.”
CELTIC’S TRIP TO MADRID
Whilst Liverpool have booked their ticket to the knockout stages of the Champions League, topped by beating Serie A’s high-flyers Napoli last night, it’s a different story altogether for Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou’s side aren’t the worst side in Champions League history, a title now handed to their Glasgow rivals Rangers after they finished their campaign with zero points and a -20 goal difference – Thierry Henry was critical of Rangers last night.
But they are still searching for that first win, and regardless of what happens against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, they will finish bottom.
The shackles are off, it’s the trip of a lifetime to one of Europe’s finest and a chance for the Bhoys to do the unthinkable.
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