Chapter 89 Red Devil, Gunner

Manchester United and Arsenal have been fighting in the British arena for more than 100 years. Although the first confrontation between Manchester United and Arsenal dates back to October 13, 1894, Manchester United has appeared in the semi-finals of the European Games for the 11th time, and Wenger led the team to participate in the Champions League for the 11th time, but the two sides competed in Europe. It's the first time.

Ferguson and Wenger are the two longest-serving head coaches in the Premier League. Ferguson came to Manchester United in 1986. Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996, and the two then became a pair of enemies in the Premier League. In the past 12 years, in the 37 confrontations between Ferguson and Wenger, Wenger's team had 14 wins and 10 draws. 13 losses had a narrow advantage, and both sides scored 46 goals.

It may be the most beneficial data for Arsenal, but in the last few years, with the decline of Arsenal's record, the wonderful data may also be broken.

Before the encounter in the Champions League, the Premier League was once a battlefield between the Lord and the professor.

In August 1996, Wenger flew from Nagoya Whale Eight in Japan to London to take over the Arsenal whip. In the eight years before Mourinho entered Chelsea, the main theme of the Premier League was the battle between Wenger and Ferguson, and the Red Devils vs Arsenal will never be there**.

When Wenger, who spoke the five languages at that time, first arrived at Arsenal in 1996, Ferguson gave his gift: "I got a 15-year-old child from Ivory Coast. He can speak the five languages." At first, Wenger didn't have time to pay attention to the Lord's "attention".

Ferguson's psychological tactics have had the effect of reversing the universe in Dagrid Club and Keegan, but the arrival of Wenger made him meet a real opponent. The French's counterattack was full of wisdom. Whether off the court or on the court, Wenger initially refused to share red wine with the Lord after the game, but what really upset the Lord was after the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park in 1999, Wenger refused to shake hands with Ferguson after losing the game.

In fact, before that, Ferguson had always targeted Arsenal's court discipline as the target of psychological warfare, which made Wenger extremely dissatisfied. "He should send me a letter of apology." The Manchester United coach also attacked Arsenal's lack of native English players, but what angered Wenger most was that the Lord portrayed the Arsenal as the most disgraceful team against the body several times.

The contradictions accumulated over the years were ignited by individual players in the next 18 months. At the end of September 2003, the "Battle of Old Trafford" caused by Fanny and Kewion, the "Battle of Highley Channel" thrown by Fabregas Pizza at the end of February 2005, and then went to Keane to challenge Vieira and let him not look for a better than himself. Little Gary "practice boxing" to bring the conflict between Ferguson and Wenger to a apex.

Before Fabregas's Pisa was thrown, in October 2004, Wenger's team was created by Rooney with a penalty kick that should not have ended 49 games unbeaten.

Just a week before the game, at a local dinner in Manchester, the most famous joke was even more shocking. An audience asked Ferguson: "If you had a pistol but only one bullet, who would you choose to kill?" Wenger or Victoria?" After a few seconds of pause, Ferguson smiled and said, "Can I have two bullets?"

Behind the joke is a true portrayal of the two people who used to be the same.

The 2005 pizza incident was the end of the peak confrontation between the two teams. That year, Wenger's team was 12 points behind Chelsea, and Ferguson also ushered in the worst time in a decade. The season was finally lost 18 points by Morinelli.

Since 2006, Ferguson's team has begun to regain the dominant position, winning the Premier League for two consecutive seasons and realizing their dreams in the Champions Cup. But Wenger's Arsenal failed to rise at the same time, making the competition between the two teams less dazzling. If it weren't for the Champions League, the most important Red Devil Gunners battle in the Premier League may be gradually forgotten by more people.

Before the game, both Ferguson and Wenger expressed their desire for the Champions League this season, but Wenger, who is hopeless in the league, is more eager, and Manchester United's goal is to take over the Big Ears Cup from Platini from Roma.

Since the restructuring of the Champions League in 1992, no team has been able to defend its title in 16 years, but Ferguson believes that he has hope to create the first place. "We are good at becoming the first. This is the tradition of the club, just like winning the Triple Crown 10 years ago." It is reported that Manchester United have even begun to plan the championship celebration and parade.

In Ferguson's eyes, the key to Arsenal's first contract is not to lose a goal. "The two teams are the same. The key to the first round is not to lose a goal, especially for us. At home, defense is definitely the most critical. We need to win without conceded. When going to Arsenal's home court like this, if I can bring a score of 1-0, then I will be very satisfied. With a team like Arsenal, I think it is impossible to end all the suspense in 90 minutes. We must be prepared for the hard game away.

Compared with Ferguson's caution, his old opponent Wenger is much more high-profile. "This is our moment, the moment we show our desire. There is a huge gap in the history of the club, and we are determined to eliminate it. That's why we are here. How many times did we not appear in the Champions League before I came? Since I came, we have been here every year. I'm an optimist. I believe we will win the Champions League sooner or later.

The 59-year-old Wenger has led Arsenal to the Champions League for 11 consecutive years. In 2006, he led the team to the finals. Unfortunately, the game was reversed by Barcelona 1-2 in the last 30 minutes. However, Wenger pointed out that the fans' desire for the European championship strengthens their determination to lead the team to win the cup. "People like success. The more you win, the more fans you will love the club. Every champion can make you stronger. As important as winning the trophy, as well as your playing style, your ambition, and the value of the club are all important.

"Three years ago, we were only 30 minutes away from the championship. We have to make up for these 30 minutes, but the premise is to defeat Manchester United first. This is a difficult task, but I believe we have the ability to do it. Wenger said, "The current elimination system makes the home team more difficult to let go, but at the same time, it is encouraging the visiting team to attack, so we will take an offensive posture on the road. Goals are very important to us.

In the last semi-finals, Manchester United played home and then away in 2007. When they defeated AC Milan 3-1 at home, they were overturned by their opponents 3-0 at home. Ferguson said, "Now our advantage is that the whole team is very relaxed. During this period, the players have a good rest. You have seen the energy we showed in the second half of the game with Tottenham. There will be no problem with our physical fitness."

Wenger's team failed to play the offensive he wanted away from home, while Manchester United showed their vitality and status. But 1-0 may be a more acceptable score for Wenger. After all, the professor's team has suffered more serious injuries than Manchester United, and they still have a chance to return home.

In September last year, Wenger and Ferguson dressed up to attend the dinner held by the LMA Charity Fund and the Public Welfare Fund. In addition to talking and laughing, he also revealed the secret history of the competition for Ronaldo. In the years when the encounter between Manchester United and Arsenal was difficult to get **, Ferguson and Wenger, who were incompatible in the past, now There is almost no more tit-for-tat war of words, but it is more a kind of pity between old opponents.

"I always care more about what happens on the field. This kind of peace is very good, just like a Christmas tree. Wenger laughed.

Ferguson now also admires the "professor" very much. "There were conflicts in the past, but most of the reasons were picked up by the individuals of the two teams. Achner and I always adhere to his principles, which deserves great praise. His stability has never changed. I think Arsenal has been rewarded. . "

An important factor in the resolution of the conflict between the two is that after eight years of confrontation, the Lord began to focus his anger against Wenger on Mourinho. After the former Chelsea coach, the goal of Ferguson's psychological warfare became Benitis. The 67-year-old Lord has never changed, only his opponent has changed. After Mourinho left the Premier League, Ferguson also expressed his friendship and appreciation for the former Chelsea coach and current Inter coach Mourinho many times.

"This has calmed down." Wenger said, "Those things in 49 games have calmed down, because you can't always be like this. He didn't start a war again and didn't say that I couldn't win the game. This is a fierce confrontation, and mutual respect can make the two games more exciting. Wenger admitted that the war of words between them was full of fun, and now he enjoys this peace and quieter more, but Wenger also believes that maybe one day the conflict will break out.

Ferguson had similar words. After the Battle of Old Trafford in October 2004, the Lord once explained his relationship with Wenger: "We are so similar, such as love for our own team. I won't allow anyone to speak ill of Manchester United, and so will Wenger. There is no deep hatred between Wenger and me, but as long as Manchester United and Arsenal exist for a day, I must fight against him.

As the only player who has played under both coaches, French defender Sylvester pays full respect for Ferguson and Wenger. "They have a lot in common. Under different circumstances, they can be great friends or may be a master-apprentice relationship. There can be no better two coaches and natural leaders. They all really love their work and want to be the best. They treat themselves and their team strictly. They are the first to come to the training ground and the last to leave. They will be great managers anywhere, not only in sports, but also in any other company or enterprise.

Perhaps after 38 encounters, Ferguson and Wenger can finally sit together and taste red wine after the match.