Pep Guardiola will provide the “reference” for Thierry Henry as he begins his managerial career at Monaco.

The Manchester City manager worked with Henry while both were at Barcelona from 2008-2010, and although he was phased out under him, the Frenchman remains an avid admirer.

As with Guardiola at Barca, Henry’s first job in management comes at the same club at which he started his playing career.

Speaking at the first press conference since his appointment at Monaco, Henry said: “Pep is the reference, for me, I’m not saying for everyone.

“There’s no right or wrong; that’s the reference for me. We learnt how to play the game when I went to Barcelona under him. With Pep you can talk about the game; he will not even go to sleep and will still talk about the game, you will fall asleep and he’s still talking.

“The invention he had in the game; he’s well ahead of the game, I saw it closely.