Micah Richards has claimed that a Manchester City player did something just like Thierry Henry against Real Madrid.
It is safe to say that the City player in question would be flattered as Henry is one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the game.
On the night, the visitors, who are usually full of poise and skill like a certain Frenchman used to be were unusually sloppy in possession, mainly due to Real Madrid’s one-of-a-kind physicality.
Carlo Ancelotti has outstanding technicians at his disposal but what is unique about several of the players he has is how physically gifted they are.
The likes of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga often bullied the Manchester City players in duels.
Either by nicking the ball off them by using their long legs or simply by overpowering the Sky Blues player in possession and kickstarting a counter-attack.
As a result, Manchester City’s rhythm with the ball at their feet was disrupted, which ultimately made for a spectacle for the neutral due to the end-to-end nature of the contest.
Micah Richards says City star did something like Thierry Henry vs Real Madrid
However, Pep Guardiola has plenty of players who back their technical ability to the hilt.
As a result, in the second half, it was inevitable that if the English giants got their heads into the game, they would be able to showcase a much-needed degree of control in their approach.
Both in terms of just retaining the ball and playing passes, whether they be risky or just from side to side.
That is what ended up happening and that can also be attributed to City’s experience in the Champions League.
Eventually, Phil Foden produced a finish that any great of the game would have been proud of if they did the same at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But Micah Richards claimed that the goal from Josko Gvardiol for Manchester City against Real Madrid was straight out of the Thierry Henry playbook.
“[Josko] Gvardiol! The centre-back-cum-full-back! It’s been a little bit difficult for him at Man City because he’s playing out of position and what we see with our full-backs is they’re coming in inside and they come inside for a reason”, he said on CBS Sports.
“He takes a bad touch but talk to me about that finish, Thierry [Henry]. That was Thierry-like!”
An example of how technically gifted Josko Gvardiol is
How many defenders in world football could pull off a strike like the £77.6 million man did on Tuesday?
Micah Richards makes a valid point about comparing the finish from Josko Gvardiol against Real Madrid to that of a stunner from Thierry Henry in his heyday.
Such was the quality of the strike, as Gvardiol bent it into the bottom corner from as far out as he did.
The technique that the 22-year-old showcased was exemplary and if most, if not any other defender tried to take a shot from the distance he did, they would have skied the ball into Row Z.
To be able to do so in one of the most daunting stadiums in football is also a sign of how composed the Croatian is.
Amongst several of Josko Gvardiol’s incredible qualities, his technical quality makes him such an exciting prospect for the future.