Arsene Wenger
Wenger - I'm not responsible for English football
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger is not prepared to be labelled as the villain of
English football.
Media reports on Friday morning suggested a PFA dossier had singled
out the Arsenal manager for his recruitment of youngsters. It
argued his policy of bringing through foreign talent was damaging
home-grown players.
At his press conference on Friday, Wenger countered by re-iterating
his belief that English football must look forward and beyond
national boundaries.
"When a guy sits in the stands at Arsenal Football Club and
sees a fantastic cross and a volley, he doesn't think
'Eboue, where does he come from?'" he said. "He
either enjoys it or he doesn't.
"Arsenal has done a lot for the popularity of the game all
over the world. I think that is the most important thing for me,
not to see where the players come from. What is important is that
people who pay £60 enjoy what they see.
"It is not my responsibility that the English national does
well. I am happy if they do well but it is not my first priority.
"However, at the same time, I'm in a job where I have to
accept sometimes to be blamed for things I am not necessarily
responsible for. From 1966 to 1996 England had no foreigners, and
you didn't win anything more, or anything less."
Wenger also argued that, to a certain extent, finances had directed
his transfer policy.
"At Arsenal Football Club I have to see how can I compete with Man United and Chelsea," said the Frenchman. "It has to be in a different way - with our resources - it is as simple as that.
"We had to try in our own way to be successful and this was to buy young players. But I must say we have young English players - as well as top players like Hoyte and Walcott - who are very good and maybe they will come out and play."
[Friday, December 07, 2007]
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