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26th Sep 2015

Arsene Wenger takes a thinly-veiled shot at Jose Mourinho with praise of predecessor

Has he got a point?

Tom Victor

Arsene Wenger’s long-running feud with Jose Mourinho will only continue after the Frenchman’s latest comments.

Wenger, whose relationship with the Chelsea manager has only worsened since the Blues beat his Arsenal team 2-0, said Mourinho’s team were already “on the way up” before the former Porto coach began his first spell in London in 2004.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Leicester, the Gunners boss was full of praise for Foxes boss – and Mourinho’s Chelsea predecessor – Claudio Ranieri.

ranieri

“Look at the team of Chelsea when he left: they all survived after,” Wenger said.

“Yes, he built the foundations. He did a great job. He bought Lampard; they had Terry, Desailly, Gallas. They had already a very strong team.”

Ranieri’s Chelsea knocked Arsenal’s invincinbles out of the 2003/04 Champions League, and the former Greece manager has enjoyed a strong start at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester go into the game against Arsenal one place and two points ahead of Wenger’s side, and they are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League.