Wenger counters Mourinho's 'privileged' claim

Wenger counters Mourinho's 'privileged' claim

English club Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger has rejected his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho's claim that he enjoys a privileged status with English football's governing body -- the Football Association (FA).

 

Mourinho earlier hit out at Wenger in the wake of last week's ill-tempered clash between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge ground, which hosts Chelsea won 2-0.

Wenger branded referee Mike Dean "naive" after the game but escaped punishment, while Chelsea forward Diego Costa was banned for three games after the coach urged the FA to dish out retrospective punishment following his clash with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.

A furious Mourinho responded by claiming that Wenger receives preferential treatment from English football's governing body - though the Arsenal boss insisted that isn't the case.

"I feel I have just done my job with the team and for our fans. That's what you want. I've been in football for 30 years now, I know what is important is to play football well," Wenger was quoted as saying by goal.com on Sunday.

Wenger also believes that his side are very much in the title hunt following their spectacular 5-2 win against Leicester City, coupled with title contenders Manchester City's surprise 1-4 defeat against Tottenham.

"Of course the City result was a boost. You want the distance to the leaders to be as minimal as possible. It's very tight and you're in danger everywhere in this Premier League," Wenger said.