Wenger And Mourinho Make Headlines Around The World

The George Groves versus Carl Froch feud captivated England leaving everyone in the country with an opinion but now there’s a new duo dominating the headlines it’s Mourinho v Wenger and it’s war. Sunday’s pitch side push and shove took the pair’s public dislike for each other to a new level and just like the Groves Froch phenomenon there will be a rematch. The date: Saturday April 25, 2015, the Venue: Emirates Stadium. In the Red corner, the frosty Frenchman who has the reach and home ground advantage while in the Blue corner it’s the Special One who has age on his side.

The Battle at the Bridge

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho’s long running feud turned physical at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with the best action in the opening half coming from the sideline. In the 20th minute Jose remonstrated with the fourth official after Gary Cahill was fouled for a tackle on Alexis Sanchez but his protest was interrupted by Wenger, with the Frenchman pushing his rival in the chest. Mourinho retaliated before officials and members of the teams’ coaching staff rushed to break them up.

Meanwhile the game carried on with players unaware of the charade until referee Martin Atkinson was called over to deal with the incident. Surprisingly both coaches were not sent to the stands nor was there a shake hands and make up. In fact the pair didn’t shake hands after the match and Wenger still refuses to apologise for starting the physical confrontation. The FA though is likely to get involved.

In terms of the ‘fight’ Arsene probably claimed the title on a points decision or perhaps a sympathy vote after Mourinho had the last laugh with Chelsea securing a 2 nil win to move 5 points clear at the top of the table. Goals to Eden Hazard and Diego Costa proved to be the real knockout blows for Arsenal as they dropped to seventh on the ladder.

Far from Friends

Sunday’s showdown was the latest spat in an ugly relationship that dates back to Mourinho’s earliest years in the Premier League. In his first reign as Chelsea manager, the always controversial Portuguese suggested the fixture list was organised to favour the Gunners; Wenger responded in kind, albeit a month later suggesting Mourinho’s s tactics were negative. Later on in 2005, Wenger had another crack at the Chelsea Boss calling Jose “disrespectful” and “out of touch with reality” for calling him a voyeur who was obsessed with the Blues.

The pair appeared to have forgotten how bad one another were until last season, when the cease fire was well and truly broken. When Chelsea went above Arsenal on the table in February Wenger may have thought he was getting in Mourinho’s head when he suggested his opposite was afraid of failure, but the master of mind games turned the tables in an explosive interview calling the Arsenal

manager a “specialist in failure.” Mourinho then went on to point out the Gunners had not one a trophy in 8 years. The flame was re-lit and burning bright.

Since then of course Arsenal went onto to lift the FA Cup and claim its first silverware since 2005, while Chelsea finished its season empty handed. But Jose definitely has bragging rights in the on field battle, he’s yet to taste defeat to Wenger, remaining unbeaten in all competitions after 12 attempts…. It’s no wonder Arsene is angry.

He might also be annoyed at how well former Gunner Cesc Fabregas is fitting in at Chelsea, after signing for the Blues this year. When the Spaniard made it aware he wanted to return to the Premier League Mourinho insisted that the 27 year old reuniting with Arsenal at the Emirates wasn’t an option. In the end he was right and the Blues bagged their man for 30 million pounds.

The pair’s feud went worldwide after their weekend antics as sports fans around the globe gasped at two of the game’s most respected managers’ childish behaviour. Now the countdown is on for the rematch. We mightn’t have to wait till April with both sides involved in the Champions League and FA Cup there is a chance they’ll meet more than twice this season. For now they’ll focus on their own teams but perhaps have a sly dig at one another where possible. But while the Special One’s special start to the season has Chelsea already eyeing the title, Wenger’s biggest fight this campaign could be for the top four.