Former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry says it is critically important for imports such as himself and David Beckham to perform well on the pitch. Major League Soccer is beginning to grow legs with the likes of Henry, Beckham and Rafael Marquez among the ranks but the Frenchman says there is no point attracting big names if they do not play well.
"To attract people, you've got to play well,'' he said. ''I do understand that it's important to play that factor - using Rafa, me, Beckham - but it's how we're all going to play that attracts people, and you can make them understand what the game's about," he said.
Henry also made it clear that there is plenty of homegrown talent which needs to be highlighted as well.
''And not only us. You have some great guys here. Dwayne de Rosario is an excellent player. People don't know that in Europe. Him, (Landon) Donovan and all those players, they're all important also," he added.