New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch has implored his playing group to step up now that Thierry Henry has departed.
The veteran French striker announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2014 MLS season, creating a massive void in the Red Bulls playing roster.
However, incoming coach Marsch believes it is a great opportunity for the group as a whole to really come together and make up for the gaping vacancy left by the Arsenal icon.
"Thierry Henry defined a lot of this organization and defined the team and how the team operated," Marsch said at Tuesday's unveiling of new signing Sacha Kljestan.
"And that was a good thing in a lot of ways. But now that he's left - a huge personality and a huge presence and a huge talent - now there has to be a new phase in how this thing moves forward.
"I think the emphasis is now that it's a little bit more on the group and the unit and the mentality of what it takes to be successful every day."
Henry spent four-and-a-half years with the Red Bulls from July 2010 until the completion of the 2014 campaign, helping the club take out the 2013 MLS Supporters' Shield as well as the 2010 and 2013 Eastern Conference titles.
