Wenger: I regret nothing
Arsene Wenger was adamant he had no need to reproach himself after shoving Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in yesterday’s 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea extended their unbeaten start to the Barclays Premier League season and their lead at the top of the table to five points from Manchester City after Eden Hazard, with a penalty, and Diego Costa scored in a match which saw the managers’ feud turn physical.
In 12 attempts the Frenchman is still to taste victory against a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho, whom he pushed after Gary Cahill’s tackle from behind on Alexis Sanchez in the 20th minute.
Asked if he rued the fracas, Gunners boss Wenger said: “No. What is to regret after that?
“I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome.
“B was Sanchez, to see how badly he was injured.”
Mourinho told the Frenchman to “back off” as the Gunners boss firmly planted two hands on the Portuguese’s chest – risking Football Association disciplinary action – and the pair also eye-balled each other in close quarters.
“Honestly I don’t listen to what he says,” Wenger added.
“Look I trust you that you (the media) will teach me all the moral lessons over the next three weeks. And I can accept that.”
Wenger admitted it was a push, saying “a little one”.
He added: “I can try to push you. You can see when I really try to push.”
The managers have a long history of conflict.
Mourinho on Friday refused to apologise for in February labelling Wenger “a specialist in failure” and their latest contretemps will have soured the relationship further.
Mourinho praised Jonathan Moss for his handling of the incident, which saw referee Martin Atkinson warn both managers after consulting the fourth official.
The Chelsea boss preferred to move on and declined to criticise his opposite number’s conduct.
Mourinho said: “Forget that (the push). Sometimes you lose emotion and I did so many wrong things, but not this time, because this time I was just in my technical area and it was not my problem.
“There are two technical areas, one for me, one for him. He was coming to my technical area and he was not coming for the right reasons.
“He was not coming to give some tactical instructions or something.
“He was coming to press the referee to give a red card and I didn’t like that.”
The regulations relating to head injuries are also likely to be scrutinised in the coming days after Thibaut Courtois went to hospital for precautionary tests, having initially played on following a collision with Sanchez.
There are concerns that clubs have too much say in whether a player can continue or not, but Mourinho insisted he leaves such decisions to Chelsea medical director Paco Biosca and his staff.
The Portuguese said: “On the bench I don’t communicate with the doctors. I just get decisions. I was just worried for the kid (Courtois), not worried about the game and the performance.”
Chelsea take a commanding advantage into the international break after dropping just two points in the opening seven games, in drawing 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
“The start of the season is good, but it’s just seven matches and beginning of October,” Mourinho said.
“We have only reasons to be happy. I feel the team is good in every moment of the game.”
