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Sandy • Thierry Henry is a world-renowned soccer icon, a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year runner-up who has played in four World Cups and starred for years at such clubs as Juventus, Arsenal and FC Barcelona.
So it was easy for coach Jason Kreis to joke that maybe the hottest new Major League Soccer import didn't really know much about little old Real Salt Lake.
Yet Henry was more than complimentary toward the defending MLS Cup champions, heading into his first meeting with them as a member of the New York Red Bulls on Friday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, in what promises to be an electrifying game.
Not only will fans get their first look at one of the greatest players of all time, but RSL will be trying to equal the league record by extending its home unbeaten streak to 22 regular-season games.
"They are a great team," Henry said.
The 33-year-old French international has been the marquee signing for MLS this year, bringing his international star power to the league in much the same way that David Beckham did for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
And though Henry acknowledged having a hard time jumping right into the middle of the season after a holiday following his final World Cup — reached after his infamous uncalled handball against Ireland during qualifying — he has proved crucially important for the surging Red Bulls, who moved into a glitzy new suburban stadium this season and are 3-1-2 since Henry made his debut.
"He's still the same player," goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. "You know, the ball's at his feet, he's going to do the special things that he does. He's a dangerous player."
He's not the only one, either.
The Red Bulls already had striker Juan Pablo Angel as a designated player when they signed Henry, and they have since added Mexico's Rafael Marquez — though the World Cup star is among a handful of regulars who won't play tonight because of international duty.
RSL's Alvaro Saborio and Will Johnson are in that group, too, away playing for Costa Rica and Canada, respectively.
Still, RSL is eager to play well against such a high-profile opponent, and once again demonstrate the quality of its depth.
"It's a massive, massive match for us," Kreis said. "We're very, very excited about it. It's another game that - once they made that signing with Henry and Marquez — immediately became a game that we circled on our calendar and said we would love to have a terrific showing."
The defending champs need one of those if they hope to remain in the hunt for the Supporters Shield regular-season title.
Kreis described his team a "long shot" to claim that honor, considering that the rival Galaxy and Columbus Crew both lead RSL in points and the Galaxy have a less congested schedule the rest of the way. The Galaxy lead the league with 43 points, while the Crew have 41 and RSL is sitting on 40.
"We have to win," striker Fabian Espindola said. "It's our home."
Meanwhile, Henry said he watched RSL beat the Galaxy in the MLS Cup title game last season, and was impressed at the way its players "fight for each other."
"You have to give them respect," he said. "I know a couple of their players. But I know, on top of that, that they are a well-organized team, and a very good team. … You can have some great players in your squad, but what makes the difference is to be a team and go out there and compete as a team — and definitely, Salt Lake is a team like that."
Real Salt Lake vs. New York
P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
Kickoff • 7 p.m.
TV • KUSG Channel 2.2 / Comcast 111/ Dish 12
Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM, 106.1 FM
Records • RSL 11-4-7, New York 11-7-4
All-time series • New York leads, 6-1-3
Last meeting • RSL 2, New York 0 (Oct. 14, 2009)
About RSL • Riding a 21-game home unbeaten streak in the regular season, they can equal the league record with a win or draw. Forward Robbie Findley and either midfielder Andy Williams or Ned Grabavoy figure to start in place of forward Alvaro Saborio and midfielder Will Johnson, who are away on international duty. They lead the league with 36 goals, and are on pace to set the league record for goals-against average, having allowed just 16 goals in 22 games.
About the Red Bulls • They have lost only one of their last six games and sit in second place in the Eastern Conference. Forward Juan Pablo Angel leads the team with 12 goals, and has taken league-leading 78 shots. They have lost to RSL only once, last season at Rio Tinto. Midfielders Rafael Marquez and Dane Richards, defender Roy Miller, and goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul are away on international duty.