Former FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, a Club ambassador during the current US Tour, took some time out from his official duties to talk to Barça TV in New York. The Frenchman cast his mind back to his spell with the blaugranes between 2007 and 2010 when he won no fewer than seven trophies, including two league titles and the Champions League in 2009.

“Barça is special, I realised that when I played there,” said Henry, before going into more detail: “For me it is more than a club. When you leave you sense this. In my time there were 11 players from the youth system and that's why Barça is more than a club. The games, the goals, Camp Nou, it’s everything, I always say that if you like football, you like Barça.”

After he left FC Barcelona, Henry joined MLS side the New York Red Bulls and in the city where he played for four seasons, he continued to highlight the unique nature of his former club. “When people ask me about Barça, we can talk about trophies, the great games and style of play but I always talk about the Academy and how a team can be so dominant and win so much with so many players from the Academy.”

The former French international also discussed the arrival of Ernesto Valverde as the new coach: “If anybody knows about Barça it is him. He has played for and against Barça many times. I think he will do well. We need to give him time and help him.”