'Something to aspire to' - Thierry Henry emphasizes importance of USMNT players in Champions League

The revamped edition of the Champions League is set to feature up to 11 players across five European teams, with multiple Americans set to feature for Milan, Juventus and PSV. And ahead of the opening round of fixtures, Thierry Henry, an analyst for CBS, said that having so many Americans in the tournament is important for the growth of the game in the U.S.

Formerly of Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls, Henry has become a consistent spokesperson for American soccer - and ardent supporter of U.S. talent in Europe.

In a news conference, Henry spoke on the potential of seeing a U.S. heavy contingent in Europe: "That is always something you can dream of obviously as a young kid in the country, watching the game, that you have American players involved. It’s also about having a long run, a good run, it’s even better. You need to have something you can aspire to, and something that can inspire you to think that it is possible."

The game has come a long way in the U.S., with more Americans featuring in Europe than ever. Christian Pulisic is a key player for Milan, who will be expected to make a push in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and Mailk Tillman are all expected to have roles to play for their respective squads.

The France legend will be a regular panelist for CBS and Paramount over the course of the competition - alongside Jamie Carragher, Kate Abdo and Micah Richards. Europe's marquee football event has changed this year, with a shift to the so-called "Swiss Model" that features more teams, an expanded preliminary stage, and the removal of groups in determining which sides advance to the knockouts.

Pulisic, McKennie, Tillman and others are all expected to be in action on Tuesday, as well as the weeks to come.