Sports
Wenger reveals Man U job offer and why Arsenal rejected Guardiola …says ‘I’ll return to Arsenal one day
Arsene Wenger has revealed he was once offered the Manchester United job – and the chance to sign Pep Guardiola at Arsenal.
He also says he is ready to return to Arsenal “one day”, having not set foot in Emirates Stadium since leaving two years ago.
Wenger, 70, stepped down in May 2018 after helping the Gunners win three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his 22 years in charge.
The Gunners legend is now working as FIFA’s Head of Global Development, with a managerial career spanning four decades to reflect on.
Towards the end of his Arsenal tenure and since his exit, Wenger was linked with a return to France to take over at Paris Saint-Germain, but it wasn’t the only high-profile job he turned down.
“I was offered that job (PSG) a few times,” Wenger said in a lengthy interview with The Times.
He also confirmed he had the chance to take over at Old Trafford – but he wouldn’t reveal when.
“I don’t tell you that,” Wenger said. “But I can tell you Man Utd offered me the job.”
“Ah, we had some good battles,” he added on former adversary Sir Alex Ferguson. “He’s an intelligent man. You don’t have a career like this guy if you’re stupid.”
Wenger never took up residence in Manchester but one man who did was City boss Guardiola. Had things worked out differently, he might have joined Wenger in north London during his playing days.
“When Guardiola was still a player, he came to my home to ask to play for Arsenal,” Wenger said. “At the time I had [Patrick] Vieira. I had Gilberto Silva. I couldn’t take him.”
While Guardiola never got the chance to be Wenger’s protege, City starlet Phil Foden is now developing under the Catalan at the Etihad.
Wenger says he watched Foden in England’s recent 1-0 victory over Iceland, and he wants to see him given more opportunities despite a turgid game.
“It was bad. I’ve seen so many good players not doing well for England. They’re scared to play.
“Phil Foden is a guy with big quality, but at the moment he has not made it. He hasn’t played enough at Manchester City. You need about 100 games to know your job in the Premier League.
“I follow every English game on television. It’s my league. You don’t need to come from a special school to know Bayern Munich will win the championship in Germany, that Juventus will win it in Italy, that PSG will win it in France.
“England is still the most unpredictable league in Europe, even if last year was not a good year and English teams didn’t do well in Europe.”
Meanwhile, Wenger says he is ready to return to the club “one day”.
He has been invited back since, but says it was best to “cut completely” from the club after his departure.
“I thought it’s better to follow from a distance,” he told The Times.
Wenger says his exit from Arsenal was a “very lonely, very painful” separation and he currently has “no connection at all with the club”.
That is in contrast to another of the Premier League’s long-serving managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, who was offered a seat on the Manchester United board when he retired from management in 2013.
Wenger said he did not know why he had not been offered a role with the north London club, but would have accepted it had he been given the opportunity.
“I always said I would still play a part in the club, but I could understand that at the start it’s better that we take a complete distance,” he said.
Wenger previously stated he wanted to return to management in early 2019, but instead took up a role as FIFA’s job in November of that year.
Having spent some time away from the dugout, he now admits he’s “not sure” if he will manage a club again,
“For 40 years I did only that every day in my life,” he said. “[Now I am] Making some sport. Visiting my family and friends. Holidays. Reading a lot. Enjoying life but in a sensible way, because I’m a little bit drilled by 30, 40 years of discipline, you know?”
Sports
Lookman’s Atalanta beat Roma to move second in Serie A
Lookman’s Atalanta beat Roma to move second in Serie A
Atalanta continued their high-flying start in Serie A as they beat Roma to enter second.
Ademola Lookman struggled, but Atalanta coped without their starman shining as they beat Roma 2-0 to move within touching distance of league leaders Napoli.
Roma, seeking to revive their season after four losses in five league games, started brightly. Leandro Paredes’ early shot from outside the box forced Marco Carnesecchi into a sharp save, but the hosts’ promising start soon fizzled out. Clear-cut chances were scarce for both sides in the first-half, with Manu Kone’s strike from distance sailing narrowly wide.
Roma struggled to recover from this setback, and their fate was sealed when two former players combined to double Atalanta’s lead. Juan Cuadrado’s pinpoint delivery found Nicolo Zaniolo, who rifled a header into the back of the net, condemning Roma to another defeat.
Lookman’s Atalanta beat Roma to move second in Serie A
Sports
Liverpool beat Man City to go nine points clear at top
Liverpool beat Man City to go nine points clear at top
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points and heaped more misery on fading champions Manchester City with a fully deserved victory at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s pace-setters, fresh from beating Champions League holders Real Madrid, were in rampant mood and subjected City to a relentless barrage from the kick-off.
Liverpool were not flattered by the margin of victory, which leaves them 11 points clear of Man City, who not won for seven matches – losing their past four league games.
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Virgil van Dijk had headed against the post – while City keeper Stefan Ortega, in for the dropped Ederson, had already been in constant action – before Liverpool went ahead after 12 minutes.
Mohamed Salah showed perfect vision to pick out Cody Gakpo for a simple finish in front of the Kop as City were unable to cope with Liverpool’s relentless attacking intensity.
Van Dijk headed wide when it seemed easier to score and the Reds created more chances when, as City hinted at a belated recovery, the league leaders deservedly increased their lead with 12 minutes left.
The Reds substitute Darwin Nunez hustled Ruben Dias into an error. Luis Diaz cashed in and was brought down by Ortega, with Salah making no mistake from the spot after missing against Real Madrid in midweek.
Liverpool beat Man City to go nine points clear at top
Sports
Dozens killed in crush at Guinea football match – reports
Dozens killed in crush at Guinea football match – reports
Dozens of people have died in a crush following clashes at a football match in Guinea’s second-largest city, N’zérékoré, local media report.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah said a stampede at the event led to a number of victims on Sunday and called for calm.
One doctor, who did not want to be named, told AFP news agency that there were several bodies “lined up” in the local hospital, and the morgue was full.
Local media said police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the pitch in anger at the referee.
So far no official casualty figures have been given.
“It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” one witness told AFP.
Videos and images on social media appear to show chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds attempting to climb over walls and numerous bodies on the ground.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify these videos.
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Regional authorities are working to “restore calm”, Prime Minister Bah said in a statement, and added that hospitals are aiding the injured.
Thousands of spectators were present when the crush happened at a match between Guinean teams N’zérékoré and Labé, local news website MediaGuinee reported.
It said Sunday’s match was part of a tournament in honour of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021.
One of the worst massacres in Guinea’s history also took place in a stadium.
In 2009, 156 people were killed after troops opened fire at an opposition rally at a stadium in the capital, Conakry.
Many were shot, stabbed, beaten or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged into the stadium. Scores of women were also raped.
Former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity in connection with the massacre.
Dozens killed in crush at Guinea football match – reports
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