"We are not friends" - Wenger and Mourinho feud continues

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have finally found something to agree on: that they cannot be friends.

Saturday's match at Chelsea is Wenger’s 1,000th game as manager of Arsenal and a crucial fixture in the race for the Barclays Premier League title.

The feuding managers were unable to set aside their feelings to celebrate the occasion. Wenger said: ‘You cannot be friends. It is impossible. If I start any game, I have to win. That is our job.


‘The real sport on that front is rugby. They do not kiss each other before the game when they walk in the tunnel. They go out and are ready for war.’

Mourinho echoed this sentiment. ‘We are not friends,’ said the Chelsea manager. ‘I don’t know if you can be friends with somebody you see three times in a year and when you see them it is for five minutes.’

Mourinho struggled to compliment Wenger and could not resist a swipe at Arsenal’s nine years without a trophy.

‘I admire him and I admire Arsenal,’ said the Portuguese, who has never lost to Wenger in 10 meetings.

‘It’s not possible to have 1,000 matches unless the club is a fantastic club and supports the manager, especially in the bad moments and especially when the bad moments are quite a lot.

‘There are many ways of paying tribute. For me, to pay tribute is to say he’s in a position where many people would like to be.’

In response, Wenger teased Mourinho’s reputation for unattractive football. ‘The ambition of a great club must be to win with style,’ he said.