'Do you think I'm a complete idiot?': The FULL transcript of Wenger's angry press conference (plus his bizarre exchange with Sportsmail's Neil Ashton)
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger lost his cool at Monday’s press conference ahead of the match with Bayern Munich when he was questioned over his future.
The Gunners manager finds himself in the spotlight again after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Wenger was in a fiery mood at the club’s training ground - and started with an exchange with Sportsmail’s Neil Ashton.
Scroll down to watch Neil Ashton's verdict on Arsene Wenger
Glare: Arsene Wenger was in a fiery mood as he faced the media ahead of Arsenal's clash with Bayern Munich
The first question put to the Arsenal boss is about claims of new two-year deal - reported by another newspaper - to remain at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger: That is the wrong information. I think I work for 16 years in England and I think I deserve a bit more credit than wrong information, that has only one intention, which is to harm.
AW: (to Neil Ashton) I look at you not because you give the information. I do not know if it is you. I do not know where the information comes from.
Neil Ashton: Me?
AW: Yeah, why do you look at me?
NA: Because it’s your press conference.
AW: OK, thank you. I just thought you had given this information out.
NA: No, I’m looking at you because it’s your press conference.
AW: OK, thank you very much.
Question from another journalist: The fans were very upset at going out of the Cup at the weekend.
AW: Look, here is a pre-match conference for the Champions League. If you want to talk about Saturday, that press conference has been made after the game. Can we get some questions about tomorrow’s game? That would be very nice.
Plenty to ponder: Wenger cuts a lonely figure during Arsenal's training session on Monday
Q: Mr Wenger, Bayern Munich has not only a good offence but also a good defence. Can you tell me about the quality of the defence from Bayern Munich and especially (cut off)
AW: I don’t talk about Bayern Munich today.
Q: If everybody is saying you have no opportunity to go through, could that help the team in a way to play with freedom?
AW: We know well what is going on here. What is important is to forget what people say and focus on our strengths. We play for Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League, we have qualified for a long, long time. We know what is important. It’s not what people say, it’s what we produce on the football pitch. We live in a democracy of experts and opinions, but we have to live with that and cope with that and show we have the mental strength to deal with any opinion. There are a lot of experts who are not necessarily always right.
Q: If this is your last chance to win a trophy this season...
AW: Thank you very much for that question. It’s a long time that we didn’t answer it.
Q: But can you talk about your desire to bring back trophies to the club?
AW: Look, I have been accused of not taking seriously the FA Cup on Saturday. I have won four times the FA Cup. Who has won it more? Give me one name.
Over and out: Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates on Saturday
Q: I haven’t accused you of not taking it seriously, I am just asking you...
AW: OK. Then, the second thing is we have been accused of not putting out a strong team. That is an insult to the players who started the game because we had 11 internationals on the pitch. I would like to tell you as well that we did not lose the game with the players who started. We lost it in the last 20 minutes so there are a lot of superficial analyses that you cannot accept. Because one guy says something, everybody goes the same way.
Q: The question is about your desire to win the Champions League. It is there, isn’t it?
AW: No, no. I want to lose it and I want to lose the game tomorrow, so you can all be happy. Of course we want to win it but in Europe, recently, you face as well some other teams who have quality. Barcelona has some qualities, Real Madrid has some qualities and they don’t win it every year. We have been consistently there. And now we want to break through. We have been in the final and consistently in the quarter-final, semi-finals, for years. People will say it is not the best opportunity now to do it, I think it is a fantastic opportunity because I feel I have a strong team. And I am sure they will prove me right.
Wenger breaks to talk to the daily newspapers. Here are the main points.
Q: The story (about a new contract) was a positive one?
AW: Why does it just come out when we lose a big game? In your opinion? You think I am so naive that I don’t see what is behind that? You think I am a complete idiot?
Shock: Colin Kazim-Richards scored the only goal as Blackburn stunned their Premier League opponents
Q: Do you feel that there is unfinished business with the Champions League?
AW: Of course, it is unfinished business as long as we don’t win it. But if I say to you we will win it this season, you will laugh at me because we just lost against Blackburn. But it can happen. Unfortunately, in football, it is less predictable than that. It is not mathematical.
Q: Tell us why a team that has lost to Blackburn and Bradford can beat Bayern Munich?
AW: Do you think really that Bayern Munich has never lost against a smaller club in Germany? Man United, against Division Three, they have lost. It can happen. What I find is absolutely unbelievable is that when it happens to me, it is a complete storm. You know why? Because in 16 years, it never happened.
Q: Will it suit Arsenal to be the underdogs?
AW: We are underdogs, yes. You just have to read the English press and you understand that.
Q: You have beaten some fantastic teams over the years?
AW: In Europe, we have beaten everybody, which is what people forget. And we are the only team that has gone into a (Champions League) final without conceding a goal, despite the fact that we have never had a good defensive record.
Next up: Arsenal take on a formidable Bayern Munich side in London in the Champions League last 16
Q: What do you need to improve on from these last few weeks?
AW: We are champions of England in the second half, and in the first half, no. For psychological reasons. Because we fight the whole season against everybody hunting here (in press conferences) ... ‘The players are not good enough, buy players and all that’, but one day, you will realise that this team has fantastic qualities.
Q: What do you put that first-half, second-half contrast down to?
AW: Psychological.
Q: But what exactly?
AW: I do not necessarily want to come out on that.
Q: You’ve been very passionate here today. You seem to be suggesting that you don’t get the respect you deserve? Any theories about why?
AW: I don’t take that personally. I’m more worried about the players. I will go into the Champions League tomorrow night in a difficult situation. On top of that, they have to fight against everybody and I want to protect the players to make sure they go into the game in good conditions.
Q: You seem angry?
AW: I’m angry because when you give wrong information like that. There’s not only wrong information behind that. See what I mean?
Raring to go: Arsenal are determined to bounce back against Bayern as they seek to progress in Europe
Q: It’s aimed to hurt you?
AW: The lie is targeted to hurt. It’s easy to say people are not happy and on top of that say he’s extending the contract. That’s what I mean. I’ve worked here for 16 years and when I say I deserve more credit, that’s not about respect and everybody saying: ‘He’s doing well.’ It is morally. I think that’s right. You can criticise me and say I’m a bad manager. I’d never come back to you on that. But I think when you work like that ... you will never find any story behind me that I’ve taken money anywhere, or things like that. So I think morally that is wrong.
Q: But the story is a positive one saying that they want to keep you.
AW: Come on.
Q: Do you not think that some of the criticism is justified? You’re 21 points off the top of the table. You’re going to get criticised …
AW: We are, of course, criticised for that. But we are not the only ones. You have some clubs that have invested more money than us for years and they are behind as well. We accept this kind of criticism. But it’s not what I am talking about. It’s about some other things that I talk about that have come out. They are lies. But when you criticise (about being too far behind), on that, then it is true. I can only say I am sorry. You are right, we are far too far away from Manchester United.
Q: Are you under more pressure than ever? We don’t normally see you like this?
AW: I reacted this way to the lie.
Last chance: The Champions League is Arsenal's final opportunity to end an eight-year trophy drought
Q: Is it just to the lie or it is deeper than that?
AW: To the intention that is behind the lie. Honestly, do you really think I take all that personally? What I don’t accept is lies and when the target behind it is to manipulate people.
Q: Do you think you’ve misread this? The story does say that despite everything they want you to stay. So that’s good rather than bad but you seem to see a conspiracy theory.
AW: I am not a conspiracy theorist. I am 30 years in this job and if I was paranoid, you would know it already. I just think that when I worked for 16 years in the country I expect a certain respect. You can criticise me and say I am doing a bad job, I will never come back to you. But this kind of thing that is a bit manipulative. And then when they are wrong, I don’t accept it.
Q: What is your current contractual situation?
AW: My contract ends in 2014. I will have completed 30 years without interruption at top-level football and that demands at least a lot of commitment. Maybe no quality but commitment, for sure.
Q: What will happen beyond 2014?
AW: I am not completely sure that you are really interested. When we lost at home to Blackburn, I am not sure that is your first worry.
Q: We would miss you!
AW: I am sure you would miss me when I am gone.
VIDEO Neil Ashton on Arsene Wenger's future
VIDEO Arsene Wenger talks to the press
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