Wenger to meet Mourinho on Tuesday as feud rumbles on
By Neil Ashton
Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho’s feud will be reignited on Tuesday when they meet for the first time since Sunday’s explosive Community Shield clash at Wembley.
The pair are both scheduled to attend a Premier League managers meeting in Gloucester Place, London, between 3-5pm ahead of the new season.
It is usually a convivial event with much pre-season bonhomie between all 20 Premier League managers ahead of the start to the new season.
Each manager is expected to be in attendance to discuss rule changes and various other issues before the Premier League kicks off again this weekend.
Wenger and Mourinho previously put their personal issues to one side at a UEFA coaches forum, but they are feuding again because of the Chelsea manager’s repeated provocation.
They refused to shake each other’s hand following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Wembley on Sunday, but the Premier League will be keen to make sure that the managers remain cordial at the very minimum when they meet on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Mourinho shook the hands of the victorious Arsenal players after they were awarded the Community Shield trophy, but not Wenger’s, who walked behind his rival.
Likewise, following the final whistle, Wenger walked straight down the tunnel ensuring there was no handshake between the pair immediately after the game.
‘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,’ said Mourinho.
‘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 because I was just there.
‘If other people didn’t come in my direction that is not a problem, not a story and not the end of the world.
‘I did my job, the job that my club deserves me to do and the status as a manager when I lose any trophy.
‘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 snubbing 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.’ Daily Mail
