Reds no big headache for Henry

Despite the fact that the dust has barely settled on his team's 2-0 aggregate quarter-final victory over FC Schalke 04, Thierry Henry accepts that most neutrals have already relegated FC Barcelona to the status of underdogs in their semi-final against Manchester United FC.

Confidence growing
The Frenchman is a veteran of many battles with the English champions and understands the thinking behind such judgements, but he believes Barça are growing in strength at just the right time and have drawn confidence from their victory over a feisty German side. "Schalke played well against us, as well as we expected them to" said Henry. "They attacked and pressed and we did well to come away with another victory.

United strength
"I guess that after watching our victory over Schalke and comparing us to Manchester United, a lot of people not only have them as favourites to reach the final but they'll say that we are not as good a team as them," Henry said. "I understand that United are strong and that Cristiano Ronaldo is having an incredible season.

Hopeful signs
"But there are two weeks until our tie with United and I also think that if you watched their recent Premier League match against Middlesbrough [FC – a 2-2 draw] you can see that if you press United and you attack them with energy then you can score," he added. "Let's wait and see how the ties go – I don't mind if people want to predict that United will be better than us."

Simple motivation
For the Frenchman, coming towards the end of his first season at the Camp Nou, there is no special frisson to playing against United, aside from the lure of another UEFA Champions League final. "I don't have particular hunger to beat them because of all the time I spent at Arsenal [FC]," he said. "The incentive of a semi-final for a club like Barcelona is enough in itself."

'Son of Catalunya'
Henry left the field to a reasonable ovation from the Barça faithful but was not startled by the immense jeering and whistling which greeted the substitution of Bojan Krkić midway through the second half. He knows that coach Frank Rijkaard's main aim was to conserve the 17-year-old's energy. "Bojan did very well and helped to create the goal and if the crowd didn't seem pleased that he was substituted, it's natural," he said. "He's a son of Catalunya, the fans love the excellent season which he's producing and it's natural that they were disappointed."