Wenger has first-hand knowledge of dealing with a demanding fan base, with an ever growing section of the support calling for a change of manager with Arsenal having not won the league title since the “Invincibles” of 2003-2004. I’m not in a destructive mode, never.
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Beasley writes: “Jose was quick to mock Wenger for that, joking with me: ‘Next time I lose a game I don’t go to the press conference because the team bus is waiting for me'”.
One player desperate to feature at the Emirates is Cesc Fabregas, who made his name as a player under Wenger during an eight-year Arsenal career of dizzy highs and crashing lows.
“I want us to recover well, and train well, prepare as well as possible for our game in Swansea, for our game in the Champions League and for Tottenham away”, Guardiola said. I have no personal problem with anybody, I respect everybody in our game.
Beasley recounts Mourinho telling him: “When Mr Wenger criticises Chelsea and Man United over the deal with Mata…”
“Of course for the result tomorrow it will be important the way we play football, but as well the way we behave, because discipline and results are strongly linked and the results we’ve had in the last two games are that we couldn’t play 11 against 11”.
Asked if he would reveal his thoughts on Mourinho one day in an autobiography, Wenger replied: “I don’t know, I will maybe make a book one day, but I am not ready for that yet”.
That’s just about the best back page I remember seeing for a long, long time.
The Frenchman, who is in his a year ago of his contract, has led Arsenal to three Premier League titles and six FA Cups. “I know it sounds amusing but generally speaking in the last few games against them, it’s always a big clash with a lot of emotions and maybe some mind games”. Before that period, we were always beating them, after they were always the stronger team for a few years. Now it looks like it’s a new era, where it’s a bit more balanced again. They were second last year and this year hopefully we can win it.
Wenger expressed “surprise” that Chelsea would sell a “great player” to a direct rival.
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“First and foremost, it’s a massive game and we just need to keep our discipline and stay in the game”, he said.
