Arsene Wenger refuses to confirm whether he'll shake hands with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ahead of Premier League clash
- Arsenal face Premier League clash against Chelsea on Saturday
- Arsene Wenger has an ongoing feud with Blues boss Jose Mourinho
- Wenger refused to answer questions about his relationship with Mourinho
Arsene Wenger has refused to comment on whether he will shake hands with Jose Mourinho on Saturday.
The
managerial duo go head-to-head for the first time since the Community
Shield, where the pair did not acknowledge each other after the clash.
The
pair have an ongoing feud; and Wenger refused to answer questions
regarding his relationship with Mourinho at his press conference on
Friday morning.
Arsene Wenger has refused to confirm whether he will shake hands with Jose Mourinho on Saturday
Wenger pushes Jose Mourinho during Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League victory against Arsenal last season
He said: 'No special relationship (between any manager) is my worry, all I worry about is our performance.
'I respect everybody in the job and focus on what I love and that is football. All the rest honestly does not concern me much.
'Realistically
people come to watch football and all the rest is a little bit
secondary. What is important is the quality of what we will see tomorrow
morning at 12.45 and you want people to focus on that.'
Asked
if he would shake Mourinho's hand and if he regretted their touchline
bust-up, Wenger replied: 'I don't want to talk about that. I have
nothing more to say about this situation.'
Wenger
was asked if he felt Chelsea were in decline. He replied: 'I don't
know, I leave that to the specialists. I take care of my team and my own
problems.'
Mourinho applauds his Chelsea side during Wednesday night's 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv
Arsenal players look on dejected after falling 2-0 behind on their way to a 2-1 loss at Dinamo Zagreb
Defeat at the Maksimir Stadium was the Frenchman's 50th career loss in the Champions League
Meanwhile, Wenger has defiantly defended his shock team selection in the defeat against Dinamo Zagreb.
The Gunners got their Champions League campaign off to the worst possible start with a defeat in Croatia.
Wenger
made a host of changes for the clash, fielding a largely understrength
team for the clash, with one eye on Saturday's clash against Chelsea.
But
Wenger said: 'Overall the numbers were quite good for us as long as we
were 11 against 11. Even 10 against 11 we had some chances but it was
more difficult.
'I
stand up for my selection and take responsibility for it, but I believe
you can repair what happened. We are on a good run in the Premier
League and it's important now to look at that.'
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving Chelsea
Veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving Chelsea earlier this summer.
But
Wenger believes the 33-year-old's participation in Arsenal's 1-0
Community Shield victory against Mourinho's side will ease his nerves.
He
added: 'It is always difficult to go back to your club and play but I
believe that he has fortunately handled that this season that is why I
decided to play him as well in the Community Shield.
'It is the first step that is important and he has dealt very well with it.'
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