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Monaco VP backs Henry: He 'came for the long term'

Jean Catuffe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Thierry Henry has the support of Monaco's brass despite starting his managerial reign on the principality with one point in four league matches.

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev told Canal Football Club that his organization appointed the former Arsenal star with an eye on the future. "Thierry Henry came for the long term, he's not a firefighter," Vasilyev said. "Otherwise, we would have gone for another profile as coach."

With Monaco sitting second from bottom on the heels of a second straight 4-0 home defeat, Henry's been forced to extinguish flames while leading a burgeoning squad rife with absentees.

"We've never had as many injured players. We're lacking confidence, we're lacking luck," Vasilyev added following Sunday's one-sided loss to Paris Saint-Germain that saw Nacer Chadli and his replacement, Jordi Mboula, both carted off with ailments.

Monaco's treatment table is now a busy one, with 17 first-team injuries. In giving Henry the sometimes-dreaded vote of confidence, Vasilyev admitted that the perils of the club's precarious transfer policy are now on full display. "Our model is risky. Up to now it has worked, but I knew that one day it wouldn't work. It's the only good model for Monaco," he said.

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