Wenger ready to make peace with Mourinho
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is prepared to bury the hatchet with old foe Jose Mourinho ahead of Sunday’s home game with Manchester United. Wenger regularly clashed with Mourinho during the Portuguese’s two stints as Chelsea manager, the rivalry spilling over into a touchline shoving match during an October 2014 game at Stamford Bridge.
The pair resume hostilities at the Emirates Stadium with their sides competing for a place in the Premier League top four.
Asked if peace could be made with United manager Mourinho, Wenger told reporters: “I am open always in life for everything, you know, for peace.
“But what is important when you are a competitor is that you give absolutely everything to win the next game.”
Wenger, who has never beaten Mourinho in the league, was reminded of his relationship with former United manager Alex Ferguson, which shed its initial spikiness to become cordial. “My relationship with Ferguson mellowed, yes. We have respect. I think I try to respect everybody and I do not want to make a case of any person. I think it is important that I focus on my own team, the performance of my team and forget all the rest.”
MEXICO QUALIFIES FOR U-17 WORLD CUP
Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, to be held in India later this year, following the latest action at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama City. United States are also on the verge of making it to the prestigious event. They just need to avoid a heavy defeat against Cuba on Friday.
DON’T SAY I DON’T CARE, SAYS ARSENAL’S OZIL
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has defended himself against criticism of his attitude and says his nonchalant body language can be misleading.
Ozil, 28, has been a peripheral figure as Arsenal’s season has hit the skids, with Arsene Wenger’s side slipping from the top four and being thrashed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. “Some people like me, some people don’t,” he told the Goal website. “Some people look at my body language and think I don’t care. But that’s me. I won’t change my body language or my style of play drastically any more.”
BORO CITED FOR FAILING TO CONTROL PLAYERS
Middlesbrough have been charged by the Football Association for failing to control their players during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Several Middlesbrough players reacted after referee Kevin Friend awarded a penalty for defender Marten de Roon’s challenge on Leroy Sane in the second half. Middlesbrough have until May 5 to respond to the charge.
LUIZ ‘OBSESSED’ WITH WINNING LEAGUE TITLE
Chelsea defender David Luiz says winning the Premier League has become an “obsession” as the leaders edge ever closer to lifting this season’s crown in his first campaign back at the club. Luiz, who returned to Stamford Bridge from Paris St Germain at the start of the season, won the Champions League and Europa League during his first spell club but the league title eluded the mop-haired Brazilian during that period.
“Winning the Premier League has always been an obsession of mine. We’ve worked hard to make this dream come true,” Luiz told Fourfourtwo magazine.