SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER has launched an impassioned defence of his management and said he "cannot understand" the Arsenal supporters who criticise his team's "outstanding" season.
Six weeks ago Wenger was pondering the prospect of a clean sweep of trophies but since then a potentially glorious campaign has collapsed, as Arsenal were upset by Birmingham City in the League Cup final, beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup, eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona and lost the initiative in the Premier League title race.
This week the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust expressed disappointment with the way the season has unravelled. There have been widespread suggestions that Wenger’s recruitment policy is flawed and faith in young players excessive, but the manager defended his record and his method, claiming his side should be acclaimed for being ahead of teams with greater resources, such as Chelsea and Manchester City.
“It bothers me that the players do not get the recognition for what they have put in since the start of the season,” said Wenger ahead of tomorrow’s game against Blackpool. “We’ve done extremely well for our age as we’re second in the league.
“Is that a disaster for you? There are teams who invest 10 times more than us, where one player cost more than our whole team, and they’re behind us. I don’t understand the way people think.
“I’m against superficial judgment. For example, people ask: ‘Why don’t you buy central defenders?’ We have a better defence than Manchester United if you look at the numbers (Arsenal have conceded 29 in the league this season, as opposed to United’s 32), but nobody mentions that.”
Wenger maintained that trophies, though desirable, are not the definitive gauge of success.
“To be consistent at the top level is the most difficult and important thing in our job. We’ve been in the Champions League for 15 years, and there’s only two clubs who’ve done that in this country. It’s us and Manchester United. Trophies are one way to judge a club. They’re not overrated as it allows you to say you’ve won a trophy, but would you swap winning the FA Cup for playing in the Champions League?”
The Frenchman is aware of the critics who say he should splash out on proven performers to complement the talents that he has nurtured but he declared that it would be wrong for him to change his philosophy.
“It’s important for football that there’s another way than to just come in, put money on the table and buy a star. The way we are doing things is right.
“If you go anywhere else in the world Arsenal are given much more credit. (This team) has not been built just like that, it is a real process of club work, coaching work – that is not just to go out and buy a player for X amount of money. What is hard in football is to build a team and work with the players every day. That for me is success.”
GuardianService
