It has always been an interesting hypothetical: Would Thierry Henry forgo his usual tradition of skipping games on artificial turf if it were in the playoffs?
We won’t know the answer for at least another two weeks.
The New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution are set to meet in the Eastern Conference Championship later this month, and the decisive match of that two-legged affair will be played on the artificial surface at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 29 (3 pm ET, NBCSN, UDN in US, TSN2 in Canada).
Henry, 37, has never played a game on that turf surface, due largely to chronic Achilles-tendon issues, prompting many observers to question whether New York’s captain will play – much less start – on Thanksgiving weekend in New England.
Not surprisingly, Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke swatted away a pair of opportunities to disclose that information on Tuesday. Petke instead wanted to put the sole focus on the Red Bulls’ series-opening home leg on Nov. 23.
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“We’re playing New England Revolution [next] Sunday at Red Bull Arena,” said Petke via his weekly conference call. “That’s the only game I’m thinking about. That’s the only game that I’m talking about.”
The answer might seem very straightforward, given that the second leg will ultimately determine the series. Henry, however, has recently been dealing with pain in both Achilles tendons.
Henry was unable to train much during the final week of the regular season and missed New York’s 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in the final match of the 2014 campaign. He underwent treatment that weekend that Petke labeled as painful, but neither Henry nor his head coach would disclose specifics.
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Henry has played 261 of New York's 270 playoff minutes, assisting on four of their five goals in wins over Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United. Following the Red Bulls’ series win over D.C. United that concluded on Saturday, the star striker declined to comment on whether he would play or not in New England by saying the opposition had not yet been determined.
Henry has skipped each of the Red Bulls’ five games at Gillette Stadium since he signed with MLS in summer 2010.
“I’m only talking about the game at Red Bull Arena next Sunday. We’re not talking about the following game and what if this and that,” said Petke. “I’ll have plenty to say, we’ll have plenty to talk about at that situation after the game [next] Sunday. But definitely I’m not going to let something like that take any type of stage ahead of an important first game of the series at home at Red Bull Arena.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
