Arsenal and France legend, Thierry Henry has named Nigerian icon, Taribo West as the toughest defender he faced during his career.
The Belgian assistant coach made the revelation during Tuesday night’s Champions League analysis on CBS Sports’ In The Mixer.
Henry named his Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ teammate, “Dennis Bergkamp” as the player he enjoyed playing alongside.
However, when asked the toughest player he has faced, the Frenchman replied: “Toughest as in direct opponent? Or just a guy you hated to play against?”
The Frenchman identified “Paul Scholes” as the guy he hated playing against.
“For direct opponent, I would go back in the days and say Taribo West.
“Because (at Auxerre), they did man-marking. He followed you everywhere, even in the dressing room.”
Henry spent five years at Monaco (1994–1999) where he faced the Super Eagles legend who was solid for Auxerre (1993–1997), helping Guy Roux side to win their first league title in the club’s history, alongside such players as Laurent Blanc and Sabri Lamouchi, among others.
Auxerre also won the national cup, thus collecting the double. West subsequently made seven appearances in the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League, as the club was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions Borussia Dortmund.
He left the French Ligue 1 in 1997 to join Italian giant, Inter Milan with whom he won the 1997–98 UEFA Cup, though he was sent off against Lazio in the final.
