COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – When he signed from Crewe Alexandra in the lower part of the English leagues last year, Julien Baudet never imagined he would be playing against Thierry Henry in New York.
But that’s what looks likely to happen Saturday afternoon as the Colorado Rapids suit up against the French star and the Red Bulls. Both Henry and Baudet are carrying nagging injuries, but try keeping “The Beast” off the field for a showdown with his countryman.
There is no danger that Baudet will be starry-eyed against the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker. He can’t afford to be. Baudet is huge, strong and physical, but he isn't blessed with the same pace as Henry. He respects Henry’s caliber but he's not in awe.
“When you become a world-class player, you don’t become a world-class player because you are just quick,” Baudet said earlier this week at Rapids training. “He’s got everything. If you are isolated one on one again him, you are going to be in trouble.”
That’s when the French center back will be calling on his reliable defensive partners to help him out. Baudet did a phenomenal job earlier in the year keeping Edson Buddle in check in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of the LA Galaxy. He will be hoping for similar on Saturday, but relying on his teammates to help him out if he is in trouble.
Who will line up with him at center back remains open to question. Speedster Marvell Wynne did not make the trip because of a hamstring injury and the Rapids will miss his blistering pace to deal with Henry and Juan Pablo Angel. Rapids head coach Gary Smith may move Drew Moor into central defense from left back or play the slower but more physically dominating Scott Palguta alongside Baudet to deal with the threat.
Whoever’s alongside him, Baudet is confident they can deal with the threats the dynamic Red Bulls forward line can present. There has been no difference in preparation this week, just some hard work in training.
“We work on our shape, how we recover, what we do,” Baudet said of the Colorado defense. “I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t really care about the New York Red Bulls. More importantly, we care about us. Right now, we are focusing on ourselves, not Thierry Henry or Rafa Márquez or whoever.”
Fighting talk. Confidence is high in Rapids camp after two strong wins at home against Houston and Chivas USA. New York away may be a different kettle of fish altogether. But Baudet sees it as an opportunity to catch one of the marquee teams of MLS.
“Henry’s been of the top players in France and it’s a great occasion for everyone,” Baudet said. “But it’s mainly a great occasion to go there and catch them up on 37 points. That’s what we focus on.”
