Old foes have become friends
Arsene Wenger has opened up on a blossoming friendship with old enemy Sir Alex Ferguson. Since hanging up his very long overcoat, Wenger says he and Ferguson are in more regular contact and hold enormous mutual respect for one another.
During their time at Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, Wenger and Ferguson were involved in countless wars of words, touchline beefs and oversaw some of the fiercest matches in Premier League history, with their teams a cut above the rest of the league.
But Wenger, who is now Fifa’s chief of global football development, says those feuds are water under the bridge.
“These people are all very busy. I’m not close enough to them… except [pause] Ferguson, yes,” Wenger told The Times.
“I have Ferguson’s number, yes.
“We have a lot of respect for each other now. We had a period when it was very tough, very hot.
“After you’re not competing any more, everyone becomes a bit more objective.
“He knows better wine than I do. Ah, we had some good battles. He’s an intelligent man. You don’t make a career like this guy if you’re stupid.”
Wenger also revealed that he was once offered the Manchester United job, but refused to say when.
“But I can tell you Man Utd offered me the job but I don’t tell you when,” the Frenchman said.
One would presume the offer came in the 2001/02 season, when Ferguson announced he would retire at the end of the season before changing his mind and leading United to another five Premier League titles.
