February 21, 2006: The day Thierry Henry (Arsenal) shone at Bernabéu to defeat the Galactics of Real Madrid

It is the story of a rare individual partition. An exceptional performance in a legendary enclosure in front of one of the three largest clubs in the world. A performance that remains in the memorable chapters of such a competition such as the Champions League: Thierry Henry and the conquest of Santiago-Bernabéu.

We are in February 2006. Qualified in second position of group F behind an Olympique Lyonnais who slapped him 3-0 in Gerland, Real Madrid of his superstars (Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Raùl, Sergio Ramos …) lives a galley season. Dumped in the league, Real was earned earlier Vanderlei Luxemburgo, replaced by Juan Ramón López Caro.

To save this 2005-2006 exercise, the objective is clear: the Champions League, a trophy that has escaped the club since the establishment of the era of galactics. Opposite, it is Arsenal who presents himself, with his mixture of experience (Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva, Sol Campbell, Lauren, Dennis Bergkamp …) and youth (Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Eboue, Jose Antonio Reyes, Abou Diaby …). Always with this team label not frankly capable of going very far in the Great Champions League.

At the start, Zinedine Zidane does not know it yet, but he is playing in the last European match of his career at his home (holder on return to London, he will announce his retirement in April, before finishing, obviously, on a shot in an evening of the World Cup in July). By landing in Spain, Arsenal is sealed by beautiful absences: Bergkamp, ​​Van Persie, Sol Campbelle, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Gaël Clichy! It is even Mathieu Flamini who finds himself left -back at kick -off.

Team compositions

“The first image that comes to me is this Bernabéu, Recalls Johan Djourou, on the bench. This huge stadium with legends everywhere! A big, big team. I have the image of the kid with stars in the eyes arriving in this Bernabéu, with this white tunic of Real. When guys are a little injured, I have to warm up. So at the age I have (Editor's note: 19 years old)Imagine entering against Zidane, Ronaldo R9 … You have a little thing in the belly that is happening. It stays for life. You are on the same field as players that we will never see again! “ Holder in front of the cascade of defense injuries, Philippe Senderos also lives for a special moment: “For me, it's a kid's dream. My father is Spanish, a fan of Real. I dreamed of playing there one day and being able to do it with Arsenal …”

But not enough to day. Because on the mythical lawn of the Bernabéu, a man decides to register his legend. The actors and spectators of this match will quickly understand that Thierry Henry is in one evening … different. It starts from the 2nd minute of play, when the number 14, sheep of captain around the arm, makes Thomas Gravesen understand, the former Danish environment, that he will not be able to catch him, before distilling an offering with the late José Antonio Reyes (died in 2019, at 35). But San Iker Casillas watch (2nd).

We did not even reach the tenth minute that Henry spreads out his whole class on this control in the air, chained in a U-turn on his right foot, then from an excess of the foot absolutely sublime in the depth for Fredrik Ljungberg. But the control of the Swedes prevents him from putting himself in real position to make the five -star service of Titi Henry (9th) grow. A decidedly insatiable Frenchman who rises much higher than Sergio Ramos but who cannot frame his head (10th). Real is still breathing, but the White House is amorphous, like Zidane, who goes completely through that evening.

To mark the history of these special European evenings, it takes something unique, magic and a little madness. It all happens just after returning from the locker room. Ronaldo loses a ball in his camp. Cesc Fabregas collects it and transfers to Thierry Henry. The Frenchman is then in the central round, back to goal. He is alone. He feels it's time. One, two, three, four, five touches of balls to reach the Madrid surface. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, despite a notable defensive effort, drops the case. Alvaro Meija, who had replaced Jonathan Woodgate, injured very early, is mystified with a hook. In the process, Guti collapses very (too) easily in contact. Then it is Sergio Ramos who tries to annihilate the whole but his tackle is too late: the strike from the left is already gone. Casillas can do nothing (0-1, 47th).

Index of the right hand on the mouth, with this characteristic approach, Thierry Henry comes at the bottom of the tribune of the Arsenal supporters, placed at the top of the Bernabeu. He has just scored the fortieth goal of his career in the Champions League, and to knock out a whole stadium. “This goal is a historic moment in English football, Johan promet Djouru. The way in which he manages to unbalance the Madrid defense, then to hit the left foot … “.” Yes, this goal remains in memory, Confirm Philippe Paths. A deliverance, something magnificent. He demonstrated his talent, his speed, his power and his finish. A great striker! It was extraordinary to have it in your team. “

We still have in mind this terrible heel between the legs of a Sergio Ramos who had to take a big doliprane after the meeting so Henry made him turn his head. Dribbles, calls, head games in the air, well -felt deviations, great inspirations, leadership … An absolutely complete panoply spread out to date and with class. Until the stoppages, where Thierry Henry will save time and look for a resparing. With, to show that he is the king of Madrid, this air, very head high, bordering on arrogance, of an attacker at the top, on his fact.

“You complete them completely, Still smiles in Dourou. This performance is unique. He had accustomed us to this in the league and in C1, but shine like that in the stadium of galactics, by scoring a goal, it's special. “ A performance of a leader who necessarily reflects on the rest of the team. “He didn't need to speak, Promises Djourou. Just in his gaze, we saw the way the team had to behave, how he was happy with him or not. There was a great requirement on his part towards himself and towards the team. There was always a big responsibility that he was putting on his shoulders in relation to the success of the team. An extraordinary aura. “

Djourou having been marked, a few months later, by the face of Thierry Henry at the evening of the defeat in the final of this 2005-2006 Champions League against Barça at the Stade de France (1-2): “He does not mark, unfortunately, but he makes every effort, and you see the disappointment in his eyes, as if he had left the team, which he had failed.”

But in Madrid, Philippe Senderos readily recognizes this: “Thierry Henry was really unplayable that evening. He was at the top.” Within much more consistent Gunners collectively, so solid in defense, and who therefore leave from Spain with a short advantage to the score, but perhaps much more psychologically. “

For my first visit to Madrid, it is true that it is a success, reacts Thierry Henry after the meeting. There are things like that you do instinctively. When I try accelerations like this, it's always to go to the point but you know how it starts and you never know how it ends. I did not do this tonight so that people get carried away on my account. I did it because it had to be done. “

In a period full of uncertainties in Arsène Wenger's project with the Gunners: Thierry Henry's future is indeed more than uncertain at the time: “I hope that this kind of performance of such a young team will convince him to participate in the construction of this new team and stay with us”loose Wenger. After the 0-0 of the return to Highbury and therefore the course to the final, Thierry Henry will remain one more season in London, before being transferred to FC Barcelona. And win the Champions League this time.