CONTE’S OLD, CLAIMS 68-YEAR-OLD ARSENE

ARSENE WENGER has hit back at Antonio Conte after branding him “old” – and claimed again that Eden Hazard tricked his way to a penalty.

Wenger stoked up the rivalry ahead of Arsenal’s League Cup semi-final with Chelsea by reopening the war of words after last week’s Premier League clash between the two clubs.

Chelsea boss Conte had accused Wenger of being an “old coach” whose “way was to blame” referees after the Arsenal manager was left angry at the penalty award for a foul on Hazard.

Wenger, 68, could not resist a pop back at his opposite number and said Conte is not young either despite being 20 years his junior. “Am I an old coach? Yes,” said Wenger. “But he’s not a young coach, he is an old coach as well.

“Is it my way to question Hazard? No, I didn’t blame Hazard.

“I don’t understand. Why did I question Hazard? I didn’t.

“I questioned the decision of the referee. OK. Then, we are objective.

“You look at the picture. You see how Hazard goes down and you see how quickly he takes the penalty when he gets the penalty.

“If he was so injured why did he take the penalty?

“He made more of it, and shouts. I can understand that. “I do not blame Hazard. He acted in a very professional way basically to get the penalty for his team. What he did, he did well.”