Thierry Henry says he was not obsessed with beating Ruud van Nistelrooy to the Premier League Golden Boot after it was revealed the Manchester United striker used to sulk when his rival scored.

Henry and Van Nistelrooy were the most prolific strikers in England during the Arsenal and Manchester United rivalry of the early 2000's with each competing to be the division's top scorer.
The United striker's former team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes recently spoke about how determined the Dutchman was to claim the golden boot, revealing he used to check if his rival had scored straight after finishing his own game.
But Henry is adamant he did have the same obsession as his opponent and told Puma he used to give up chances to score in order to assist team-mates.
'It became a story between me and him because it was always him or me [to win the golden boot],' he told England Women striker Nikita Parris on Puma's Instagram Live.
'But I don't know if you remember I used to give penalties away…I used to give penalties away!'
'When Edu played his last game for Arsenal and I was battling with Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Golden Boot I gave him the penalty.
'It's because you ask me the question don't get me wrong…but if you look at the number of my assists I gave in the game and sometimes I was in front of the goal and I squared it, that would answer that question [whether he was as obsessed].
'I would not have all those assists if I was only just thinking about the Golden Boot.'
Ferdinand claimed Van Nistelrooy used to be devastated if Henry had scored more goals than him, even if United had won games by three or four goals.
He told the Manchester Evening News: 'Ruud van Nistelrooy used to come in the changing room after a game, trust me, we're trying to win the league, we've beat someone 3-1 or 4-1, he's scored one goal, he'll come in and look up to the TV [shake his head] and go "ohh".
'He sits down, [we'd ask] "Ruud, are you alright, what's wrong?". And he'll reply, "nothing, nothing".
'Then someone will go, "Thierry has scored two today, Ruud has only scored one, so he's a goal behind now".
'And he's sitting there devastated, and you can see it. I used to sit there and think this guy is mad, we just won 3-1, he's scored a banger, set someone up as well, and he's disappointed.'
Scholes had similar memories of the striker, claiming he 'lived for scoring goals'.
'Whenever he did score or didn't score, the first thing he would do when we got on the team bus after the game was see if Thierry Henry scored,' he told United's podcast.
'If Thierry Henry had scored he wouldn't talk to anybody for the full trip home because he was so engrossed in being the leading goalscorer, not just at United but in the league, in the world, everywhere.'
Henry and Van Nistelrooy's battle went on for five successive seasons but it was the Arsenal man who came out on top with four golden boots to the Dutchman's one.
NorthBankStanding
1
My Fav Shirt.
Thedarklord666
4
Van nistleroy wasn’t fit to wipe HENRYS ARSE... Also was one of the worse divers in Prem history..
vebabklp
1
please make this a movie...it like niki lauda vs james hunt (rush)
hunceksuyz
0
one day cr7 and messi rivalry will be exposed like this
mowbcnptuy
2
😂 the king is always a 👑 Henry the greatest in epl
Dublin9
2
Definitely I knew HENRY won more golden boots than Van cos Henry has everything a striker requires.
turbulence
0
all arsenal fans here looking cute supporting their hero from two decades back [Crylaugh] (ps: henry was a beast)
salty arsenal fans! i called henry a beast and still they are salty. kroenke is a GOAT.
Namakpsy
1
one of my favourite striker and favourite rival striker..good old rivalry with Man United and Arsenal
32888594(deleted)
0
meaning that HENRY was his Idle 😵😏
skippoo
0
I know that there are a lot of fools on here because stats proved Henry right, he still hold the record of the most assists in a season with 20 assists. Henry doesn’t need to be obsessed because he’s a King and a king will never compete with the chiefs, Nisterooy is just a chief he can never be as good as King Henry that’s the simple fact he should have understood back then. Till date Henry is still the King.
what does he know
Tacadiosyz
0
If this is as true as it is meant to be, it is a life lesson. Taking up a challenge, meeting up with expectations, is not the same as competing, going into rivalry, with others.
Oluwole12
0
if u were a real a football fan u wouldn't had talked about rud van niestroy in such terms
True football fan Henry has always been better and will always be better than your Ruud so take a chill pill and sleep
Zaodrst
2
true football fan who witnesses both of these legend in their prime would still still have nothing but admiration for both! as they were both devastating infront of goal and there is nothing wrong with being obssesed about beating ur competitor, it is what kept messi and cr7 at the top for almost 15 yrs
Zaodrst
0
I know that there are a lot of fools on here because stats proved Henry right, he still hold the record of the most assists in a season with 20 assists. Henry doesn’t need to be obsessed because he’s a King and a king will never compete with the chiefs, Nisterooy is just a chief he can never be as good as King Henry that’s the simple fact he should have understood back then. Till date Henry is still the King.
if u were a real a football fan u wouldn't had talked about rud van niestroy in such terms
MrMeeeeeee
1
all arsenal fans here looking cute supporting their hero from two decades back [Crylaugh] (ps: henry was a beast)
It's not just Arsenal , it's a football app,,, past and present players should not be forgotten!!! Would you like Fergie to be forgotten because he was in the past ?
NorthBankStanding
2
24 Va Va Voom, pure Class. No pressure! 👌
MikeTeddy
1
While United fans here looking pissed having a go at Henry just because he simply said the truth...
nobody is having a go at henry we know he is better that vuud nestleroy
Renegade⚽
4
When you know you're the best it's hard to get obsessed with the rest or who comes in second...
Renegade⚽
1
all arsenal fans here looking cute supporting their hero from two decades back [Crylaugh] (ps: henry was a beast)
While United fans here looking pissed having a go at Henry just because he simply said the truth...
turbulence
4
all arsenal fans here looking cute supporting their hero from two decades back [Crylaugh] (ps: henry was a beast)
MrMeeeeeee
5
Ruud van Penalty v Thierry Goals and assists..... There's only one winner 🌠Henry🌠
Oluwole12
7
I know that there are a lot of fools on here because stats proved Henry right, he still hold the record of the most assists in a season with 20 assists. Henry doesn’t need to be obsessed because he’s a King and a king will never compete with the chiefs, Nisterooy is just a chief he can never be as good as King Henry that’s the simple fact he should have understood back then. Till date Henry is still the King.
bionictino
1
That's how they go about telling lies, egocentric pricks!
Semako366
2
You said that because he said sulks each time you score..stop pretending no player who has a golden boot competition never get's worried..... You can only win that once a season
winblmprs
3
you just can't beat Thierry Henry in his beast mode.