Arsene Wenger - I Suspected Earlier This Season That Alex Ferguson Was To Retire As Manchester United Manager
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he suspected earlier this season that this would be Alex Ferguson's last year in charge at Manchester...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2013/05/arsene-wenger-i-suspected-earlier-this.html
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he suspected earlier this season that this would be Alex Ferguson's last year in charge at Manchester United.
The two managers have endured a fractious relationship throughout much of their time in charge of the rival clubs.
But the tension between the pairs mellowed in recent years as Manchester United strengthened their dominance over Wenger's side.
"I told my staff a long time ago I think that it will be Alex Ferguson's last year, so I was not completely surprised," said the Arsenal manager, who had a personal conversation with the Scot last summer as he looked to push through Robin van Persie's £24 million switch to Old Trafford.
"I detected a few signs through the season, there was already one of them before the season started, that it could be his final year.
"You have to respect his decision. It is sad because it is the end of a remarkable career. He got a lot of praise that he deserves.
"After 26 years, he just won the championship, he knows it will be more difficult even for Man United to have that consistency now because there are so many teams who have financial power.
"Even for Man United it will be difficult to have the consistency there that they had until now.
"There is a double challenge now, the first is for Manchester United to replace a guy of that stature, and the second challenge for Alex Ferguson to have a life as passionate and as interesting as the life he had until now, but you have to respect the decision."
Wenger will next season become the longest-serving manager in the country after taking charge at Arsenal in 1996, but has yet to commit his long-term future past the end of next season.
Asked how he felt about taking over that title from Ferguson he said: "It's not a title at all. I have the luck to be at this club for a long time because I have the faith of my directors and I am grateful for that.
"I try to pay that faith back by having complete commitment and dedication and to give my best of course."
The French coach insists chopping and changing coaches is not necessarily a recipe for success.
"I am against (short-termism) because I believe stability is needed inside the clubs for people who represent the values that a club wants to carry though," he said.
"Inside the club it is important to have people who represent these values. The manager can be one of these people if he has been there a long time."
But the tension between the pairs mellowed in recent years as Manchester United strengthened their dominance over Wenger's side.
"I told my staff a long time ago I think that it will be Alex Ferguson's last year, so I was not completely surprised," said the Arsenal manager, who had a personal conversation with the Scot last summer as he looked to push through Robin van Persie's £24 million switch to Old Trafford.
"I detected a few signs through the season, there was already one of them before the season started, that it could be his final year.
"You have to respect his decision. It is sad because it is the end of a remarkable career. He got a lot of praise that he deserves.
"After 26 years, he just won the championship, he knows it will be more difficult even for Man United to have that consistency now because there are so many teams who have financial power.
"Even for Man United it will be difficult to have the consistency there that they had until now.
"There is a double challenge now, the first is for Manchester United to replace a guy of that stature, and the second challenge for Alex Ferguson to have a life as passionate and as interesting as the life he had until now, but you have to respect the decision."
Wenger will next season become the longest-serving manager in the country after taking charge at Arsenal in 1996, but has yet to commit his long-term future past the end of next season.
Asked how he felt about taking over that title from Ferguson he said: "It's not a title at all. I have the luck to be at this club for a long time because I have the faith of my directors and I am grateful for that.
"I try to pay that faith back by having complete commitment and dedication and to give my best of course."
The French coach insists chopping and changing coaches is not necessarily a recipe for success.
"I am against (short-termism) because I believe stability is needed inside the clubs for people who represent the values that a club wants to carry though," he said.
"Inside the club it is important to have people who represent these values. The manager can be one of these people if he has been there a long time."
