Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has admitted he was concerned about Internazionale striker Romelu Lukaku's state of mind after the World Cup.

The Belgian did not enjoy a very good tournament, missing numerous chances against Croatia that would have seen his side through to the knockout stages.

Lukaku, on-loan from Chelsea, maintained he was nowhere close to full fitness for that tournament, as he helped his side to the Champions League final on Tuesday.

"He's a pain in the you know what, but in a good way, I was the same," former Belgium assistant coach Henry told CBS Sports.

“It's always for the good of the team, you always try to challenge everybody. Me, the coach, his teammates, himself.

"At times he's very critical of himself and that's why sometimes he can bring himself down because he doesn't see the positive side of it. After the World Cup, it was not easy. I won't go into details of what happened, sometimes we would speak to each-other, but he came back.

"This is the first time I see him stand against proper adversity and he is slowly but surely coming back and showing he can deliver no matter what. Even if everybody is against him, and that is the sign of greatness.

"I'm not often worried and that's not my normal reaction but I did it to Rom at the World Cup. Normally I am more tougher than that, but I have changed recently. But for two weeks I was worried because I was texting him every day to ask him how he was because it wasn't easy. He came out of it and I am very proud of him."