Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is prepared to bury the hatchet with old foe Jose Mourinho ahead of Sunday’s home game with Manchester United.
Wenger regularly clashed with Mourinho during the Portuguese’s two stints as Chelsea manager, the rivalry spilling over into a touchline shoving match during an October 2014 game at Stamford Bridge.
The pair resume hostilities at the Emirates Stadium with their sides competing for a place in the Premier League top four.
Asked if peace could be made with United manager Mourinho, Wenger told reporters: “I am open always in life for everything, you know, for peace.
“But what is important when you are a competitor is that you give absolutely everything to win the next game.”
Wenger, who has never beaten Mourinho in the league, was reminded of his relationship with former United manager Alex Ferguson, which shed its initial spikiness to become cordial.
“My relationship with Ferguson mellowed, yes. We have respect,” Wenger said.
“I think I try to respect everybody and I do not want to make a case of any person. I think it is important that I focus on my own team, the performance of my team and forget all the rest.”
Arsenal approach the weekend in sixth place in the table, five points below United and six behind Manchester City, with a game in hand on both.
“It just shows that everybody has moved up,” said Wenger, whose side will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
“The number of clubs that can fight at the top is bigger this season and the difference between the teams is smaller. As soon as you are not at your best, you can lose.”
With Sunday’s game sandwiched between the two legs of United’s Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo, Mourinho has indicated he will rest players for the trip to north London.
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