Manchester: Arsene Wenger is unsure of the welcome he will receive on his final visit Sunday to Old Trafford as Arsenal boss after many ‘great battles’ against Manchester United during his two decades in charge.
The 68-year-old Frenchman, leaving the club at the end of the season, will bring a side that is a pale shadow of the team that challenged United’s Premier League dominance during his first decade in charge.
Wenger’s clashes with former Man U boss Alex Ferguson are the stuff of legend and his relationship with current Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been laced with bitterness.
But both men have reached out to him with warm words since he announced he was stepping down. Mourinho said he regrets some of the ‘little negative episodes’ between himself and Wenger over the years, calling on Man United fans to give him a fitting send-off. When asked whether he could be friends with Mourinho, Wenger spoke instead of ‘respect’.
The pair frequently clashed with Mourinho often appearing to relish baiting Wenger, who he had previously referred to as a ‘voyeur’ and ‘a specialist in failure’.
“There are little things where it would be obviously be better without them, some gestures, some words would be better without it,” said Mourinho.
“I don’t know what reaction I will get but look we had some great battles in 22 years and for me what will be at stake is to recover from that result (against Atletico) and before we go to Atletico have a good game,” Wenger told reporters Friday.
Wenger said he was so committed to Arsenal that he even declined an approach by then United chairman Martin Edwards when Ferguson was mulling to retire in 2001.
“Arsenal have been the love of my life. I turned many clubs down to face the challenge when we built the stadium,” said Wenger, referring to the Emirates.
“I speak to everybody, yes I met Martin Edwards, many people came to see me but I was always loyal to this club. When I look back now I realise what a great team they had,” Wenger said of United.
The Red Devils are hoping to consolidate their hold on second place in the Premier League, which would mark a significant improvement over last year’s sixth-place finish for the club, who have also qualified for the FA Cup final, where they will face Chelsea.
agence france-presse
‘Yes, there have been some fascinating contests between Arsenal and Manchester United. I’ve relished and learnt from each one of them”
Arsene Wenger
‘Yes, there have been some fascinating contests between Arsenal and Manchester United. I’ve relished and learnt from each one of them”
Arsene Wenger
