Thierry Henry Urges Patience as Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola Adapts
Bradley Barcola’s expensive move from Paris Saint-Germain to Liverpool has brought an immediate spotlight, but Thierry Henry believes the winger requires time to settle after leaving Luis Enrique’s highly drilled side for the demands of English football.
Liverpool paid £123m for the 24-year-old during the summer, with £17m of that total dependent on add-ons. Barcola has yet to score and has made only a limited impression across his first five appearances in England, while Iraola’s new team have made an uneven start despite remaining unbeaten in five Premier League fixtures. Three of those matches have ended level.
Henry said the adaptation is more complicated than simply transferring talent from one leading club to another. At PSG, Barcola played within a system whose patterns were already familiar to every player; Liverpool present a new language, different teammates and a league played at greater intensity.
“When you have been used to one way of playing, where everyone understands what will happen, changing can be difficult,” Henry said. “He has only just joined Liverpool, he does not speak English, and the football is different in this league.”
The former Arsenal forward pointed to the progress made by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Barcola himself in Luis Enrique’s structure, arguing that such an environment can help attackers flourish. Henry also recalled the personal adjustment involved in his own arrival in England, when greater confidence with the language and dressing-room relationships helped him become more comfortable.
Barcola’s pace and ability in one-on-one situations remain clear strengths, Henry said, although he identified finishing as the principal part of the forward’s game still to develop. He compared that process with his own growth from his late teens into a more assured finisher later in his career.
There will nevertheless be little protection from scrutiny for a player signed for such a fee. Henry noted Barcola’s two consecutive Champions League wins, his France involvement and his quality mean supporters will expect an immediate return. While describing the attacker as occasionally raw in front of goal, Henry stressed that he consistently creates opportunities.
Jacquet’s rapid impact
Jeremy Jacquet has made a far smoother start at Liverpool since his arrival from Rennes. The 21-year-old centre-back has impressed alongside Virgil van Dijk, and Henry said he had followed the defender’s progress well before the transfer.
Henry revealed that he wanted to include Jacquet in the France Under-21 set-up when the player was only 16 or 17. Jacquet could not accept the call at the time because of his examinations, a decision Henry felt reflected the defender’s focus away from the pitch as well as on it.
“He is very clear-minded, and his family understand what he needs in order to succeed,” Henry said. “He was regarded as a special player from an early age, although that does not always guarantee anything. Some players with that reputation do not fulfil it, while others emerge later.”
Henry has not been surprised by Jacquet’s ability to handle Liverpool’s expectations. He praised the defender’s understanding of the physical side of the game and said sharing a defence with Van Dijk has aided his transition, although Jacquet had already faced significant pressure throughout his development in France.
Both Liverpool players started France’s 1-0 victory over Belgium on Monday after being included in Zinedine Zidane’s reshaped national squad. Barcola and Jacquet will have another opportunity to strengthen their cases when France meet Italy on Friday, before Belgium provide the opposition again next Monday.
