Wenger bored by constant need to defend record
LONDON: Arsene Wenger has launched a vigorous defence of his achievements as Arsenal manager as he hit back at the “boring” critics calling for him to quit.
Wenger has become accustomed in recent years to Arsenal supporters and pundits calling for him to resign and the Frenchman was under-fire again last week after three successive defeats dealt a major blow to the team’s EPL title challenge and Champions League campaign.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry claimed he has never seen the club’s fans as angry as they were after a home loss to Swansea, while former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness called the Gunners “weak and insipid” and claimed they “bordered on a joke” during their defeat to Manchester United last month.
Wenger, who is now the longest-serving manager in Europe as he approaches 20 years at the helm at Arsenal. Asked if the way fans react to him over the remainder of the season would affect his thoughts over signing a new contract at Arsenal, Wenger made it clear he had no interest in what the doubters say.
“Look, I have worked here for 19, 20 years and I’m always sitting here having to justify that I’m good enough to do the job,” Wenger said on Monday.
“I have no problem to cope with everything but I find that a bit boring in the end. I always have to convince you that I am good enough. I worked for 35 years at the top level.
“What I find just boring is always sitting here after 19 years to face: ‘Do you think you are good enough?’ If I am not, somebody will tell me.”
While Arsenal haven’t won the title since 2004 and reached their only Champions League final back in 2006, Wenger is adamant he will go about his job of trying to deliver those trophies rather than focusing on what he cannot control. “I cannot influence the behaviour of the fans. How can I do that?” he said.