HOW CHILDISH!
Wenger avoids handshake with Mourinho Jose moans after first loss to Arsenal
THE curtain-raiser to the new season descended into childishness yesterday when the victorious Arsene Wenger refused to shake hands with arch- rival Jose Mourinho.
Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain’s blistering first-half strike in the Community Shield was enough to secure the Arsenal manager his first victory over the Chelsea boss in 14
attempts. But the game was overshadowed by ongoing bad blood between the pair. Following the final whistle, Wenger walked straight down the tunnel, ensuring there was no handshake between the pair immediately after the game. And after the trophy presentation Mourinho, positioned at the bottom of the Wembley steps, shook hands with every Arsenal player only for Wenger to walk behind his rival to avoid having to greet his opposite number. Mourinho made it clear what he thought about Wenger’s action, saying: ‘I was doing what I think the status of my club and my status as a manager have to do, which is be there for the winners, to wait for them. ‘I was at a point that you
only miss me if you want to miss me and every Arsenal player came in my direction which was the easiest thing to do. ‘If other people didn’t come in my direction that is not a problem, not a story and not the end of the world. ‘Would I have shaken his hand? I don’t need to answer that. You see the images and see where I am — so to ask is not a fair question.’ In response to Mourinho’s assertion, Wenger denied ignoring his counterpart, saying: ‘I shook a few hands after the game but there’s nothing special there. ‘I believe in a job where you have to respect people and respect everybody. I think it’s vital — I’ve said many times in managers’ meetings — that managers respect each other.’ But in a further dig at Wenger, Mourinho also claimed Arsenal abandoned their attacking philosophy to secure victory at Wembley. Arsenal fans taunted Chelsea with chants of ‘Boring, boring Chelsea’ but Mourinho insisted it was the Gunners who were defensive. ‘Normally you like to say a team that is defensive and a team that defends very well doesn’t deserve to win,’ said Mourinho. ‘I have to go in your direction and say that the best team lost. And the defensive team won. ‘But I also have my opinion, different than your opinion. My opinion is a team that defends very well, a team that leaves their philosophy in the dressing room, can change their attitude and their philosophy, accumulate 10 players behind the ball, play the second half with nine players in front of the box. ‘One team played counterattack football. Another team had initiative, played well and tactically tried everything.’ In response, Wenger added: ‘We abandoned nothing. We defended. Our game is based on togetherness, on solidarity, on defending well and attacking well. ‘I believe we defended because maybe it was a bit of a psychological hurdle in the head of my players.’ ‘I don’t think that’s giving up your philosophy. We wanted to win, we behaved like that. I’m quite proud of that.’ On finally defeating Mourinho, the Gunners boss added: ‘Personally, it didn’t play on my mind at all.’ Meanwhile, Wenger is almost certain to be without Jack Wilshere for this weekend’s Barclays Premier League opener against West Ham after he missed the Wembley win with an ankle injury sustained in training on Saturday. Mourinho has concerns over the fitness of star striker Diego Costa. The Spain international was declared fit for the encounter on Friday afternoon but his recurring hamstring problems ruled him out of the Wembley showdown. And Mourinho said: ‘Will Costa be fit for Swansea? I don’t know. You think I’m lying but I’m not. Two days ago he was ready to play and yesterday he trained normally. The next time you ask me about Costa’s fitness I prefer not to answer. Maybe yes, maybe no.’