Wenger v Mourinho: their war of words over the years

Arsene Wenger will come face to face with rival Jose Mourinho for the last time as Arsenal manager in Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Here’s look back at the war of words between the two rival bosses over the years.

Wenger on the tactics of the then new Chelsea manager Mourinho.

“I know we live in a world where we have only winners and losers, but once a sport encourages teams who refuse to take the initiative, the sport is in danger.”

Mourinho responds to the Frenchman’s criticism.

“Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you call in England a voyeur. He is someone who likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have this big telescope to look into the homes of other people and see what is happening. Wenger must be one of them – it is a sickness.”

Wenger on what he made of Mourinho’s “voyeur” jibe.

“He’s out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful. When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.”

Wenger on why other title contenders would play down their chances.

“It is fear to fail. It is very open, only Chelsea can lose it because they are in front and all the other teams can win it.”

Mourinho, back at Chelsea for a second spell in charge, responds.

“You know he (Wenger) is a specialist in failure. I’m not. So if supposedly he’s right and I’m afraid of failure, it’s because I don’t fail many times. So maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m not used to failing, but the reality is he’s a specialist because, eight years without a piece of silverware, that’s failure. If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave London and I don’t come back.”

Wenger on confronting Mourinho on the touchline at Stamford Bridge.

“In hindsight I think I should not have reacted at all. It’s not a way to behave on a football field. Did Mourinho provoke me? That is how I felt.”

The Chelsea boss on the altercation during October 2014.

“I’m not surprised, I’m not surprised. (Me) charged? Charged? If it was me it would have been a stadium ban.”

Mourinho on Wenger’s criticism of referee Mike Dean, which did not lead to disciplinary action.

“In this country, only one manager is not under pressure. Every other manager is. We cannot be below par. We have to meet the objectives. There is one outside that list, but good for him. You know who. The one who can speak about the referees before the game, after the game, can push people in the technical area, can moan, can cry in the morning in the afternoon, nothing happens. He can not achieve, keep his job, still be the king. In the rule book it says some managers can speak about the referees before and after games. Some others cannot. I am in the list of those who are punished if they speak about the referees.”

Mourinho, now installed as Manchester United boss, on the weight of expectation.

“There are some managers, the last time they won a title was 10 years ago, the last time I won was a year ago. I feel I have to prove – not to the others – to myself. I will never be able to work without success. That’s my nature. If I have something to prove, imagine the others. To finish fourth is not the aim.”

Mourinho following the announcement Wenger was set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

“It’s power and ambition and quality against each other, but in the end it’s people from the same business and (who) respect each others’ careers. So it (war of words) happened, what matters for me is the way I respect the person, the professional, the career. I know what it means, three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, what he did in Japan and France, what he brought to French football and what he gave to Arsenal in the period without Premier Leagues, the transition from stadium to stadium, we know what he did. If he’s happy with the decision, I’m really happy and I hope he doesn’t retire from football.”