New York Red Bull head coach Mike Petke has likened Thierry Henry's influence to that of former American-based sports stars Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky.
The French striker has been known to make some rash decisions on the pitch over the course of his career but new coach Petke insists he has a similar effect on his teammates as Chicago Bulls' NBA great Jordan and Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings' NHL superstar Gretzky.
"I know the perception people have of Thierry and I can understand why," Petke told the NY Post. "[But] that's a player you want on your team.
"He's a guy who demands excellence. Could he go overboard sometimes? I look at him like a Michael Jordan or a Wayne Gretzky. How do you think he got to the level he's at?
"If I have him working after practice every day and I have a rookie walking off the field, you can grab him by the neck and say that guy who's accomplished everything in the world is doing the extra work: 'Where the hell are you going?'"
