Wenger cites 'lack of respect' for Mourinho handshake snub

Matt McGeehan 07:50 03/08/2015
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  • Arsene Wenger suggested a lack of respect was behind his decision to snub Jose Mourinho after the Arsenal boss claimed a first victory over the Chelsea manager at the 14th attempt.

    Finally Wenger has a victory over Mourinho after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half goal earned the Gunners a 1-0 win in the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley.

    Mourinho made a point of congratulating the Arsenal players afterwards as Wenger walked behind him, their feud showing no signs of coming to an end.

    “I shook a few hands today after the game, but there’s nothing special there,” said Wenger, who shoved the Blues boss in last season’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. “I believe in a job where you have to respect people and respect everybody.”

    Mourinho said: “You see the images, you see where I am. (I was) there for the winners, to wait for them in a point where you only miss me if you want to miss me.

    “Every Arsenal player came in my direction, which was the easiest thing to do. If other people didn’t come in my direction, that’s not a problem, that’s not a story, that’s not the end of the world.”

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    Mourinho felt the better team lost, but was pointed in his praise of Wenger’s approach, saying Arsenal were “a team that leaves their philosophy in the dressing room”.

    “The best team lost. And the defensive team won,” he added. “If you want to be pragmatic, like I normally am, I say in a simple way, they score, they didn’t concede. Well done. Congratulations.”

    Mourinho insisted he did not have a psychological hold on Wenger’s teams, but described his 13-game unbeaten streak as an “eternity”.

    “What happened before is not normal,” he said. “One game is one game and has no relation with other games. Thirteen matches is an eternity, it’s too much.”

    But Wenger, who disagreed that he compromised on his approach, felt the prior record against Mourinho played on his players’ minds.

    The Frenchman said: “We abandon nothing. I believe we defended because maybe it was a bit of a psychological hurdle, Chelsea, in the head of my players.

    “Personally I must honestly say it didn’t play on my mind at all. But as long as I get it served eve- ry time in press conferences it can have an impact on the team.

    “They were more concerned once we were 1-0 up to protect our lead than to play. We have to accept that. I don’t think that’s giving up your philosophy. We wanted to win, we behaved like that. I’m quite proud of that.”

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