'Pep was praying': Thierry Henry slams actions of £70m ace Arsenal & Chelsea reportedly want

Thierry Henry was critical of Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target Lautaro Martinez following Inter’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday evening.

Following a mix-up in communication between Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and goalkeeper Ederson in the second-half, the Italian side had a prime chance to score when Lautaro Martinez pounced on a poor and under-hit back pass.

At a tight angle, the World Cup-winning star was through on goal and had the chance to shoot, or the better option, play the ball across the box to two of his Inter teammates, his call to shoot straight at Ederson was slammed by Henry, who stated that ‘he now has to sleep on that one’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (10/06/23 at 11:05 pm).

Inter fans had every right to be screaming at their TVs and shouting from the stands in anguish at that moment because, as Henry put it, Martinez decided ‘he had to score’ and ‘not Inter Milan had to score’.

Not long after, Rodri would write his name into the history books by becoming the first Man City player to score in a European Cup final and help Pep Guardiola’s score secure the Treble.

It was heartbreak for Inter, who will still be feeling the hurt of last night’s defeat, with Henry sharing his thoughts on that very costly moment from Martinez.

“I will go back to the one with Lautaro Martinez, I am sorry, you have to cross,” said Henry. “Not only one time, two times, three times, four times and five times. The only solution you have is to cross. It would have been a different game, now he has to sleep with that one.

“Akanji let the ball go thinking the goalkeeper was going to get it – If Martinez recomposed himself and you really take your time to see Brozovic at the top of the box.

“Lukaku is with Ruben Dias, so it’s difficult to play him. If he kept his composure, then he would have seen Brozovic and it’s a tap-in. It is a tap-in.

“But he decided he had to score and not Inter Milan had to score. You don’t always have to score, the team has to score. Pep (Guardiola) was on his knees praying.”

Will Martinez join Chelsea or Arsenal?

It has been a mixed season for the 25-year-old, who secured World Cup glory in Qatar, but has now ended the season in the cruellest of fashions.

Over the course of the campaign, he has faired well for Inter and played a big part in their run to the European Cup final, scoring 28 goals and supplying 11 assists in all competitions, including six goal involvements in the Champions League.

That’s why he is hot property in the 2023 summer transfer market, with both Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal keen to take him on board.

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