Thierry Henry has praised Tottenham Hotspur target Mike Maignan and how he has been France’s best goalkeeper ‘during the past four years’.
The Premier League legend added that Mike Maignan’s penalty save, which helped AC Milan progress through to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night, was ‘magnificent’.
Leading 1-0 against Napoli on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate, the Serie A leaders were struggling to break down the rigid and stubborn AC Milan defence.
That’s when there was an opening and former Chelsea man, Fikayo Tomori, was punished for an accidental handball inside the penalty area.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one of the most dangerous players in Europe, stepped up, but he watched his spot-kick saved by the man in between AC Milan’s sticks.
Before and after the game, Thierry Henry and former England goalkeeper, Rob Green, share their thoughts on the 27-year-old, as they told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (18/04/23 at 10:05 pm).
“You don’t win a big competition without a big goalkeeper,” said Henry. “I don’t care what anyone says.
“This guy, for the past four years, in France, has been our best goalkeeper. I know that Hugo Lloris was the captain and he was the world champion. I understand that. But, for me, this guy is absolutely magnificent.”
Green added: “He is a bit of an unconventional goalkeeper. You look at his technique, it’s a brilliant example that goalkeeping doesn’t have to be the same way all the time.”
Henry on penalty save: “Mike Maignan was magnificent on that. Somehow, I felt that he was going to save that. And he did. We talked about him at the beginning. You will not win a Champions League without a keeper having great moments during the run.”
TOTTENHAM’S NEED FOR A KEEPER
Hugo Lloris has hung up his gloves on the international stage and that’s opened the door for Maignan to take the keys for the next decade.
But, on the domestic stage, could Lloris be on his way out? In the summer, he will have 12 months left to run on his contract and, at the age of 36, Spurs need a long-term replacement.
That’s where Maignan comes into the picture because he is a target for Spurs ahead of the summer transfer window.
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