MX23RW : Friday, March 29 00:42:24| >> :600:403057920:403057920:

Wenger reacts to Mourinho Barca claims

Arsene Wenger disputes Jose Mourinho’s claims that there is a plot to take Barcelona to the Champions League final.

Arsene Wenger has weighed in on Jose Mourinho’s claims that there is a conspiracy to take Barcelona to the Champions League final.

In a press conference following Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to the Catalan team at the Bernabeu last night, Mourinho railed against UEFA and the opposing club, noting that referees appear to systematically pass harsh verdicts on teams opposing Barca.

Wenger himself has fallen victim to losing players while facing Barcelona; Robin van Persie was sent off when the teams met in the final 16 stage of the competition. However while he agrees that the Barca players “overreact, certainly”, there is no conspiracy.

“It’s difficult for me to comment on that because we were involved in a situation like that,” he said. “I refuse to believe that because the day I believe that, it is impossible to manage. This season, they certainly had some advantages [but] I feel that they were accidental.

“When a manager comes out of a big game like that, and you have a disappointment, you have to accept that you can sometimes go a bit too far, but I refuse to believe that there is, let’s say, a script behind the stage and that Barcelona is advantaged.”

He added that last night’s double goalscorer Lionel Messi is a large factor in the club’s success. “When a guy scored 52 goals in modern football and 25 assists, when you see how difficult it is to score a goal, you just have to say it is absolutely exceptional what this player is delivering,” he admitted.

The striker put away four goals against Arsenal in last year’s quarter final, removing them from the competition.

ID:83: cacheID:83:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2432:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Nani heading for Real Madrid?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!