MOURINHO HAS REGRETS
United manager urges fans to give Wenger a positive reception
MANCHESTER United boss Jose Mourinho said he regrets the “negative episodes” that have marred his relationship with Arsene Wenger ahead of the Frenchman’s final visit as Arsenal manager to Old Trafford in the Premier League today.
The pair frequently clashed with Mourinho often appearing to relish baiting Wenger, who he has previously referred to as a “voyeur” and “a specialist in failure.”
But on Friday, Mourinho told MUTV that he is unhappy with some aspects of his behaviour over their 19 meetings. “There are little things where it would be obviously be better without them, some gestures, some words would be better without it,” said Mourinho.
The relationship reached a low in 2014 when Wenger pushed Mourinho on the touchline at Stamford Bridge, later apologising and citing provocation for his behaviour.
On Friday, Mourinho said many of his antics should be seen in the context of trying to challenge Arsenal’s position as England’s leading team.
“When I arrived in England 2004, Arsene was the champion and the famous ‘Invincibles’, and for the next couple of years was with them.
“(Dennis) Bergkamp, Thierry (Henry), (Sol) Campbell — amazing team. They pushed us to the limits. The two matches we played not at the Emirates but at (the) amazing old stadium (were) unforgettable. We had big matches, big fights, so thank you so much for that. Regrets? Little negative episodes.”
Over the years Old Trafford has shaped Wenger’s career, with the Frenchman claiming his first big win in England there in 1998 and then suffering his biggest humiliation in losing 8-2 to one of Alex Ferguson’s best sides in 2011.
In that context, today’s farewell on which nothing rests promises to be a low-key affair with Arsenal set to field a weakened team ahead of this week’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
But Mourinho called on United’s fans to give Wenger a positive reception.
“I hope he has a good reaction, if not good, not bad at all and from our club he is going to feel the respect we have,” said Mourinho.
“Man United fans know that until 2004 for about a decade was between Man United and Arsenal, was between Sir Alex and Mr Wenger and I think that these great teams Arsenal had made Man United better and better.”
Mourinho also said there was “no chance” that keeper David de Gea would be allowed to leave the club in the close season.
While it will be Wenger’s 28th visit to Old Trafford as a manager, he has hinted it may not be his last.
“In France we say “au revoir” which means we might see you again,” said the outgoing Arsenal manager, smiling.
Wenger’s appetite for work remains and it is feasible he may return to Old Trafford as coach of another team. But he will not fool anyone if he pretends it will be anything like the same.
During the years when Wenger was making his unique mark on the Premier League, his rivalry with Ferguson’s Manchester United went some way to defining both the highs and the lows of the period.
When Arsenal were strong under Wenger, they were strong at Old Trafford. When they were not, they were often exposed.
Between 1997 and 2004, when it was either United or Arsenal who won the Premier League, neither would have been quite as strong had the other not been around.
As such, Wenger and the modern United owe each other something. It is hard to reach the top if there isn’t somebody pushing you.
Wenger hinted at this yesterday when he said: “I don’t know what kind of reception I will get but there have been some great battles in 22 years and if I get a good reception I will take it.
“Manchester United are a massive club with fantastic players. When I look back now I realise what a great team they were. They had Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Ronaldo and Rooney, all young players.
“Then you see what they have done later and that shows the challenge we always had. They had an unbelievable team. I realise that better at a distance now than I did at the time.”
United once considered hiring him. Former chairman Martin Edwards told in his recent autobiography of a meeting with Wenger before Ferguson’s volteface on his plans to retire in 2001.
Wenger was coy when asked about that this week. “Yes I met Martin Edwards,” he said. “Many people came to see me but I was always loyal to my club.”