Mourinho vs. Wenger: Manchester United’s Visit to Arsenal Rekindles Manager Feud

Since Jose Mourinho’s arrival in the Premier League in 2004, the Portuguese has been tangled in a public feud with Arsene Wenger, both on and off the field. Tomorrow they clash once again as United visits Arsenal in a crucial match for the Red Devil’s Champions League aspirations.

The ever-feisty Mourinho made a very uncharacteristic attempt at downplaying his rivalry with Wegner after United’s victory against Celta Vigo.

“He doesn’t need to make peace. When there is peace, we don’t have to have problem,” said Mourinho.

The truth is, there has never been peace between the two managers since Mourinho’s arrival in Stamford Bridge in 2004. As the two managers are set to write another on-the-field chapter, it is only appropriate -and quite frankly very entertaining to hop once again on the roller coaster of quotes and moments in this ever-spicy feud:

“Voyeurguate”

2005 not only brought Jose Mourinho’s first league title, but also the first crossfire of the feud. Following Wenger’s criticism of Mourinho’s defensive tendencies, Mou came up with this gem:

“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.”

Court Proceedings

The “Voyeurgate” arrow pierced deep in Wenger’s soul, so much saw talk of lawyers and court surfaced. These rumblings brought along this piercing arrow from the French boss:

“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.”

There’s No Crying in Football!

Mourinho left and returned for a second go-round at Stamford Bridge. And with him the feud reignited with his assessment of Mikel Arteta’s reaction following a 0-0 draw between the London sides:

“You know, they like to cry. That’s tradition. But I prefer to say, and I was telling it to the fourth official, that English people – Frank Lampard, for example – would never provoke a situation like that.”

The Scuffle

On October 5th, 2015, the manager spat reached its boiling point. Chelsea’s 2-0 home victory against Arsenal lives in the memories of soccer fans not for the performance of Mourinho’s title-winning side, but for the only physical encounter between the managers in plain sight of the viewing world:

Jose Mourinho can try to simmer down the heat all he wants. The Mourinho-Wenger fire remains alive and burning.