José Mourinho has paid fulsome tribute to former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco this week. Mourinho describes himself, Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘sweet enemies’.
Speaking exclusively to @LaureusSport, Mourinho, who had an intense rivalry with Wenger and Ferguson in England when he was manager of Chelsea, questions whether any team can match Wenger’s success in 2003/04 when Arsenal remained unbeaten in the English Premier League, becoming known as ‘The Invincibles’.
Mourinho says: “Where are the next Invincibles? Today’s football is about results. Who did better than him? I arrived in England and I found 'The Invincibles' and I found Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson very much hurt by that invincible Arsenal season.”
Among Jose Mourinho’s other comments:
- On his rivalry with Wenger: “There were some episodes along the road that I don't like to say I regret, nor should Mr Wenger regret it too, because this is really part of our history….but what I can say is that the real respect is always there.”
- On Wenger’s future: “The Award is very much deserved. I just hope that it’s an Award for what he did until today and that tomorrow or very, very soon, he’s back to where he belongs which is to football.”
- On Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson: “I arrived [in England] with the ambition to win and waiting for me were two of the biggest managers in football history that wanted to try to stop me. We were fighting for same. We were like sweet enemies.”
