Original piece in French by Baptiste Desprez for Le Figaro Sport 24. Translation from Google with edits by me.
The former Arsenal manager was present on the mythical Paris scene Monday night for a conference on his career and an exchange with the audience.
At the Olympia
His youth in Alsace: “I come from a small Alsatian village where life revolved around religion. The “king” of the village was the priest. I was raised in a restaurant that was also the clubhouse of the football team and it was all about that. But religion did not help to win matches. Much later, I replaced my missal with good players and football became my religion. The game must be treated as religion. He alone dictates your choices. “
Nancy Coach at age 33: “Some players were older than me. But I never had a problem with my authority, I can not say why. I vomited after the defeats, I could not live with defeat. I told myself that I was not made for this job. But my body got used to that and over time I changed. “
The metaphor of the squirrel: “The animal is a survivor. High level sport too. It’s me or the others. But in a collective sport it is also me AND the others. The squirrel shares his body between the head and the top. Football is that, manage with the brain and legs. But if someone does not get up very often, it will never make him a very good footballer. “
“In a locker room you have 25 carnivores in front of you. They detect everything and especially your weakness”
Football synonymous with lions pits: “There are an incredible number of players who do not win in the locker room. They do not cross the threshold. The top player, when he starts, must show that he is there. It already starts with his entry into the locker room with a clear message and sometimes just with an attitude you say something: “Now you have to count on me”. I remember Bojan, who lived in Barcelona and was even afraid to drink in the same bottle as Messi. It’s a detail, but he never knew how to live up to his potential. “
His definition of the great player: “This is a special animal that revolves around three essential precepts. Ball control, decision making and execution. The best ones anticipate and are ahead of the others, they understood what was going to happen. But I think that if the players watched their game even more, they would be even better. All successful guys have a regularity in the effort and an objective analysis of their performance. The big player is tough with himself. “
The “discoveries” Weah and Thuram in Monaco: “George came straight from Cameroon and I would never have imagined it at such a level. He became the best player in the world (Ballon d’Or in 1995) and is now president of Liberia … It’s fabulous. It is a boy who had faith, as guided by a mission. In the field, he was powerful and intelligent and resisted everything. (on Lilian Thuram) I remember he was playing midfielder at the beginning … You would have told me that this guy was going to make 144 matches with the France team, I would have smiled obviously. But what an exceptional mind. “
His period in Japan (1994-1996): “I wanted to test myself and on a whim I went there to a Nagoya team that had not won a match. At 47, it changed me at all levels. In the first ten games, we lose eight and I have an anecdote about it. The President calls me to his office and before I go, I tell my assistant to pack his bags because we were going to be fired. The President spoke clearly: “The results do not meet expectations and what I am going to tell you will not please you. But we have to face this situation … We are going to fire the translator “. I was surprised and I managed to keep him working with us, we saved his head. By the way, he’s in the room tonight (Monday). He became a friend. After, on the experience in Japan, it is the perpetual isolation. Your only company is yourself. With the players, something new happened to me in my life. I banned the ball in training or in the game because they were already dead. They were preparing before to be level and they were cooked afterwards. They had to be channeled. “
His debut at Arsenal in 1996: “I realized that football was invented there. In England, you make tattoos with the names of the children and your club, but that’s all, you can not put anything else. The English are attached to all this. This feeling of belonging is intense. After my arrival, I did not roll out the red carpet (he was nicknamed “Arsene who”). They did everything to me. I was told that we had pictures about my private life not very clear. I told them to take them out … in vain. “
His management of the dressing room:”You have 25 carnivores in front of you. They detect everything and especially your weakness. The job of coach can be summed up in this way: select 11 players and make 14 unemployed on weekends. And it goes away every week. It’s hard to live but also to manage. You have to be smart and not lose impulses. Before the matches, I only took care of players who were going to play, the others, it was useless. But from Monday to Wednesday, I had to pay attention to the disappointed. How to cheer up? Be firm and honest and also carry the values that you embody. We must also show respect, compassion and not let people down. There are too many people suffering from depression in football. The player who does not play feels useless, it’s up to the coach to fix it, that was part of my job. “
The 49 games without defeat from 2003 to 2004 with Arsenal: “We lose our unbeaten streak against Manchester United in a match where the referees have their share of responsibility (Rooney dove). It was not deserved. By the way, if I die, I’ll ask god where are the referees before choosing between paradise and hell (laughs). I remember that the previous season, we finished undefeated away from home and we lost the title with our home form. And there all the players came down on me because I had said that we could win the title without a defeat. During the title-winning season, we were champions with 5 games to go. I remember saying, “It’s up to you whether you want to be immortal or not.” And they did it. Winners of the Premier League without a loss. “
His definition of a great coach: “He is a guide who has a form of confidence of clarity and humility. He has faith in man. A good coach should never close the door to the human. It is important and essential to always keep hope. Often, men can pleasantly surprise you and this is where you will reap the fruit of your patience and your work. In my opinion, a great coach has three major forms of influence: On the club, the results and the performance of the players. In Arsenal, I was able to make a club by defining values. We respected the traditions of a workers’ club, but we also innovated and behaved in an honest and classy way. No one had to be mediocre. From the player to the gardener, the whole club … This is the first step, with a common goal. A detail? The flowers in the “director box” are in the colors of the club that you receive on matchdays. More generally, a great coach has an impact on the style of play and the result of his team. In a big club, you have to want to win with class, that the fan wakes up with a smile before going to the match. It is essential to be emotional passers-by, to have a clear identity. A coach is someone who totally identifies with his club. He must behave as if he will stay there forever. He must be loyal. Every year I took a photo with everyone (gardener, cook) and I displayed it with the phrase “everyone counts inside the club”. It takes a sense of unity between the employees and the players. “
The cost of the Emirates Stadium:”It cost 430 million pounds (inauguration in 2006) … We put ourselves in the hands of banks. After that, we had to sell our players (to stay solvent). This is probably the most difficult time of my time at Arsenal. I remember the time I spent with the architects to build the stadium … I learned a lot. Today, the club is worth 2 billion pounds and at the time it was 40/50 million. Of course it’s also a pride. It’s the darkest job, but it’s a huge job. I refused many clubs out of loyalty for the commitment I made. When we started building, the banks asked me to sign a 5 year contract because they wanted me to stay at Arsenal. I am the last manager of this profile, today in the world of football it is impossible for one person to manage all the files. The economic stakes are too many. “
The reproaches he makes himself: “A good coach is someone who takes care of himself. This is the reproach I am making today. I neglected myself. It takes a tiger force to succeed but little by little we wear you out. I had lots of appointments every day. To give you an idea, the guy who wanted to buy a mower, he came to see me. I managed everything. It’s a job that invades you. When you are with others, in the company of your family you are not quite there. I neglected the people around me. I’ve dedicated my life to one thing: winning the next game. “
His regrets to Arsenal: “There are only unfinished lives when you are a coach. When I talk with other top athletes, they only talk to me about things they did not win. You only remember what you did not do. Personally, I live pretty well with that. I had a life beyond what I could dream to have. At 19, in Alsace, if you told me that, I would have said to go get dressed.
Farewell to Arsenal: “I felt like I was attending my first class funeral. People have been extraordinary. They showed gratitude. England has that. I did not cry or flinch because I learned to shield myself. If I did not master my passion, I could not have survived. I learned to control it. “
How to manage pressure: “Being professional means being good under stress. Without trust. When I hear a player explain the bad results by lack of confidence, I do not agree. This is where we see the big players of other partners. Imagine if you have a heart operation, the surgeon returns to the operating room and says, “I’m not confident right now but I’m going to do my best.” You could hear that speech? No.”
Managing egos in a dressing room: “If the star has performances everyone accepts it. If she is not at the level, there also the locker room sees it immediately. The problem of the star is that it can take up too much space. In and out of the game, you have to find the right balance. I remember with Thierry Henry, nobody refused him a pass at a time because he had taken a huge status. It could become a handicap. “
His relationship with Henry: “I never call my old players when things are going well, but here I called him and encouraged him not to let go when it was pitching with Monaco. I tried to call him when he was removed from office. Today, he is still in mourning and I offered his agent to organize a meal. We will do it.”
The transition to Arsenal with Emery: “I will tell the truth: he never called me. I will be a fan of Arsenal until the end of my days. I am a supporter and I want it to be good. It’s ok for now.”
The rumors that send him to PSG: “I am not a candidate for anything. I am a fashionable man at the discretion of his intuitions and inspirations. PSG has a great team, there is a sort of curse with the Champions League but we must not forget the rest (titles in France). They will manage to cross the last obstacle. The impatience is real and exacerbated around that club. A national selection? Maybe, but if it’s done, it will be before the World Cup (2022 in Qatar). I have to make a decision between a better sharing of my time, I have gone 35 years without stopping … I would like to find a compromise by sharing what I know and at the same time having time for myself with the people I have neglected all my life. “
His opinion on Ligue 1: “I think the English Premier League is the most pleasant in the world. Ligue Un is very unequal. Sometimes I see beautiful teams and after I do not recognize them a week later. PSG could go on vacation today, they would be champions. For the L1 to become interesting, it takes a challenge for the title, with a fight to several. But future TV rights and French-style training make it possible to dream. ”
He has to call Henry’s agent to arrange a lunch? Man, at that point, I don’t think I’d bother.
Yeah, that was a bit of a revelation. The quotes I saw earlier in the week had Wenger saying that he called Henry directly but here he’s saying that Henry won’t take his call.
Pardon my French but Thierry Henry sounds like quite the asshole.
Oui. It’s become very apparent TH wasn’t just in a bad mood the last couple of seasons at AFC. It’s not a bug, but a feature of his personality. Arsene is either being super generous or passive aggressive even bringing it up. “…still in mourning..,” kinda struck me funny, though he could well have meant it in all earnestness..
GFFN has a bit more from Arsene’s Q&A that don’t seem to be covered or are expanded in greater colour than in the French article you translated.
https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/arsene-wenger-one-must-behave-with-class-and-integrity-and-never-forget-that-one-must-stick-by-the-words-that-they-use/
https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/arsene-wenger-on-his-future-i-miss-competition/
https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/arsene-wenger-on-the-secret-to-his-arsenal-longevity-i-never-accepted-an-invitation-that-would-fall-48-hours-before-a-match/
‘The top player, when he starts, must show that he is there. It already starts with his entry into the locker room with a clear message and sometimes just with an attitude you say something: “Now you have to count on me”.’
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I thought of Guendouzi when I read that.
In a bad or good way?
I’ll vote: an aspirational way. Guendozi looks like he could grow up into this kind of player. He isn’t quite there on the pitch, so it’s hard for me to imagine him having the sufficient swag in the locker room. But I have literally no idea what goes on in these multi national locker rooms. It actually seems pretty interesting.
(Off topic, mostly. Did you ever watch ‘Sunderland til I die?’ Not normally one for binge watching, but I blew through that like it was “Russian doll.”)
I know you’re asking Tim specifically, but I enjoyed that show. It’s made me keep a closer eye on Sunderland’s results this season (and they’re filming this season for a second season of the show too).
Ha. I answered a question aimed at someone else just above, so no worries. Open discusser, here.
I enjoyed it, as well. I’d agree with Tim, there was some repetition. But I really enjoyed it as a series. There was enough drama and intrigue that I was engaged. It was sort of like an iteration of the NFL/HBO ‘Hard knocks’ series. Though I felt like we got a little more of the Behind the scenes stuff with STID. I especially appreciated the supporter perspective they included. I could have used even a little more than that.
I followed Sunderland more, as well. Though not closely, as last time I looked, they were in contention for Promotion. And now (SPOILER!) they appear out of it. Better ending for Series 2, if they went up. But glad to read they’re filming it. I’ll watch.
Noted on your blog, Tim. Was it you I used to read on 411? In any case, I’ll check it out.
I watched it and wrote a review here. You should just read my blog and only my blog. It has all of the things you need: sports, politics, current events, culture, life, and sex.
I thought it should have been a single 90 minute movie. Not a big fan of 20 minutes each episode dedicated to the same things over and over again. But other than that, it was ok.
I’m waiting for the sex part.
Or I’ll have to turn to those sites that should be used only in incognito mode through a VPN.
Everything about me is sex, homie.
Tim has mentioned watching ‘Sunderland til I die’ in multiple posts. One post was almost entirely about it.
Oh, in a good way! I mean, the way he’s come into this club is quite incredible. A teenager from L2, and he’s just had this attitude of “I belong in the starting eleven” and “I’m best buds with the star strikers” right from the get-go. I think he does have that air of “you can trust me” about him. Some may call that arrogance, but I’ve also not sensed that about him. I think he’s a special player, but no, I don’t expect him to be flawless at this stage.
Bun, spot on.
He AWAYS shows for the ball. Even when making a mistake 20 seconds earlier. He can be a bit cocky, as others have pointed out, in berating other players! 😀 But as Arsene said, a football dressing room is no place for a shrinking violet. And he carries that ball with so much confidence, positivity and belief. Doesn’t look for one second as if he thinks that he doesn’t belong in big company.
He’s very special, Guendouzi. Haven’t felt this way about a young player since Fabregas. I think he’s a year away from a call from Deschamps.
Bun, spot on.
He AWAYS shows for the ball. Even when making a mistake 20 seconds earlier. He hasa bit of that competitive arrogance, as others have pointed out, in berating other players! 😀 But as Arsene said, a football dressing room is no place for a shrinking violet. And he carries that ball with so much confidence, positivity and belief. Doesn’t look for one second as if he thinks that he doesn’t belong in big company.
He’s very special, Guendouzi. Haven’t felt this way about a young player since Fabregas. I think he’s a year away from a call from Deschamps.
Sorry about the duplicate. The eagle eyed among us can spot where I got modded, and made a correction! 🙂
Same, Claude. I generally don’t think of him as 20. I keep shouting “get it to Guendouzi” when we have the ball. He pushes forward relentlessly. Big personality and very likely a major leader in the future.
“By the way, if I die, I’ll ask god where are the referees before choosing between paradise and hell (laughs)”.
Pure Wengerian gold.
Arsene is a genius. He gave Arsenal a perfect history and a limitless future. How many managers can say that..
Perfect history? I don’t think AW can say that. But maybe that’s what you mean by Faith? You just believe?
Haha…no mate..I mean the invincibles = perfection and put Arsenal as a club in history for that perfection. Even if Arsene had won Champs League that would not have put Arsenal as a club in history..loads of clubs have done that..invincibles is uniquely perfect…
Ah, yes. Right on. That was perfection. And if Rooney doesn’t dive…
His answers to questions about management are quite interesting. In how a manager with his track record has dealt with pressure, egos and everything else that encompasses management, while using his vision of what football should look like and what it stands for, is incredible.
His point of view isn’t entirely correct and his failures prove thata perfect manager doesn’t exist, but his successes also prove that he was a special manager. I didn’t get access to Premier league football until the 07/08 season, and many Arsenal fans, esspessially in Africa, are the same. We didn’t know about the invincible, but I feel like we saw Arsene’s true vision of football in that side and we got hooked to the club.
It says a lot that the global fanbase grew at its fastest rate for the club during the trophyless years. The exposure of the premier league to new markets helped but fans still had to choose a club, and the chose one that wasn’t winning trophies, but put a smile on your face even after a defeat. Wengerball is something that means more on the African continent than the trophies. I have seen young kids in training sessions around the continent saying they are trying to score like Arsenal.
Wenger’s football, wengerball, is severely underrated in football because of how we failed to pair it with steely defending, but at its best, it was football heaven.
He will forever be an underrated tactician because the word tactical has become solely associated with defensive organisation or reactive football. It is so much more difficult to prepare your side to be the best they can be, rather than just better than the opposition. That’s why we have the I nvincibles, they were challenged to challenge themselves rather than just looking to win the league. That one league title now means more than the multiple titles that anyone has won since.
Wenger is the last successful manager to believe that its not just about winning that counts, how you win is also how you will be remembered.