Thierry Henry discusses Leicester's effective style of play

By Thierry Henry, Football Expert @ThierryHenry

Thierry Henry says possession means nothing if you don't score

Thierry Henry believes Leicester are the most effective team with the ball in the Premier League.

Claudio Ranieri's side are five points clear at the top of the table but have the third-lowest possession percentage in the league and, speaking on Sky Sports Now, Henry said their efficient approach explains their success.

"The key of the game is to make sure you don't concede when you're suffering because at times in matches you will suffer," Henry said. "On the other side, when you have possession, can you make sure you score?

"Leicester are the masters of this at the moment. They have scored 47 goals and conceded 27, and people are still talking about a fairytale. This is not a dream, this is reality.

"If you look at the numbers, Leicester have the ball for around 40 per cent of the game compared to past champions around 55 per cent.

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"So with 40 per cent they can still score 47 goals and Arsenal with 50 or 60 per cent have managed 39 goals. It is more than amazing that a team with less of the ball can manage this, so you have to give them even more credit.

"They might win the league, and they deserve it. I will put my hand up, I was one of the first to say I think they will collapse because my belief in the so-called big guns made me think they would not accept Leicester in front of them, but they are well in front."

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Leicester beat title rivals Man City despite having 34 per cent of the ball, and Henry believes a focus on possession can be misplaced.

Henry backed Leicester to go all the way and win the Premier League title

"What bothers me with possession is when, after a game that you've lost 1-0 or 2-0, you bring me your possession stats," he continued. "What am I supposed to do with that? If you have 10 attempts to hit the post, but I do it in one, I'm better than you.

"Possession counts for me when you batter a team 4-0 or 5-0 and you say, 'We had 66 per cent of the ball, 10 shots, 10 on target', and then I can say, 'Yes, that was a very good game'.

"But possession never gives you points. It's what you do with your possession."

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