JOSE NOT SO SPECIAL - WENGER
Arsene Wenger has hit back at Jose Mourinho, saying that winning the Champions League does not make you a great manager.
With Sunday's Carling Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea fast approaching, Mourinho had made the point that his achievement of winning Europe's most coveted trophy with Porto is missing from many other managers' C.Vs.
But Wenger does not like the way the Portuguese boss appears obsessed by individual glory and believes there even are coaches in the French lower leagues who, relatively speaking, have done as good a job as Mourinho.
He said: "Am I big or small is not so important - it's not my obsession.
"We played a whole season unbeaten (2003-04) but you did not see me every week jumping on the tables.
"Once it's over it's over and you do in the next one as well as you can. Plenty of managers who have won the Champions League will not be considered great managers.
"There are plenty of people working in France in divisions two or three who I rate very highly. What is important is that you look at the careers of 10, 15 or 20 years.
"If I did not win the Champions League, it would not change my life."
Meanwhile Wenger insists he is not tempted to bring senior players back into the starting XI for the final.
The Frenchman is set to rely on the youngsters who have taken Arsenal to the final at the Millennium Stadium, with players such as Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann set to be on the sidelines.
Despite a poor recent record against the Premiership champions, he wants to show his faith in his young players. More
With Sunday's Carling Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea fast approaching, Mourinho had made the point that his achievement of winning Europe's most coveted trophy with Porto is missing from many other managers' C.Vs.
But Wenger does not like the way the Portuguese boss appears obsessed by individual glory and believes there even are coaches in the French lower leagues who, relatively speaking, have done as good a job as Mourinho.
He said: "Am I big or small is not so important - it's not my obsession.
"We played a whole season unbeaten (2003-04) but you did not see me every week jumping on the tables.
"Once it's over it's over and you do in the next one as well as you can. Plenty of managers who have won the Champions League will not be considered great managers.
"There are plenty of people working in France in divisions two or three who I rate very highly. What is important is that you look at the careers of 10, 15 or 20 years.
"If I did not win the Champions League, it would not change my life."
Meanwhile Wenger insists he is not tempted to bring senior players back into the starting XI for the final.
The Frenchman is set to rely on the youngsters who have taken Arsenal to the final at the Millennium Stadium, with players such as Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann set to be on the sidelines.
Despite a poor recent record against the Premiership champions, he wants to show his faith in his young players. More
posted by auto | 10:13 AM
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