Source: Daily_Mail
Arsene Wenger claims winning is all so easy for rich Chelsea
Arsene Wenger has insisted Arsenal's achievements should never be directly compared to Chelsea's because of the Roman Abramovich factor. [LNB]Wenger celebrated 14 years at the Gunners on Friday as details of Manchester City's £121million losses stirred up old feelings of resentment ahead of Sunday's derby at Stamford Bridge. [LNB]The Frenchman has been among the fiercest critics of the way Abramovich has bankrolled Chelsea's rise by lending millions and then cancelling the debt.[LNB] Man on a mission: After 14 years at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger still wants to do it his way[LNB]Arsenal have won seven major trophies under Wenger, while Chelsea have lifted 12 in that period (including one European Cup-Winners' Cup), eight since the Russian billionaire bought the club in 2003.[LNB]'The biggest pride of a club is to achieve the maximum with the resources available,' said Wenger. 'That is what we try to achieve and the situation is not really comparable to what Chelsea has done. The resources are different.[LNB]'We do the best we can. We have our own way to run our club. Every time we don't win a game, everyone tells me I have to buy a player. [LNB]'The fact that I manage a club in a sensible way looks crazy. I understand why Chelsea manage in their own way, because they can support the deficit. We can't. [LNB] Sugar daddy: Roman Abramovich has bankrolled Chelsea's success while Alisher Usmanov has attempted to do the same for Arsenal[LNB]'They have become more sensible with time because they realise it's only a short-term situation,' he added. 'Look at what happened to Portsmouth and Leeds. All the mismanaged clubs died before. Nobody survived.'[LNB]With financial regulation high on UEFA's agenda, Chelsea are trimming costs, but UEFA president Michel Platini has been forced to delay the plans. They are scheduled to kick off in 2014, although 'sugar daddy' amendments have been made to the original proposals, allowing investments but not loans in return for shares. [LNB]'Each person can manage their own way,' said Wenger. 'I will do it my way. Platini looks to be strong-willed on the subject and has my complete support. [LNB]Flying high: Didier Drogba has tormented Arsenal for years, and could do the same this weekend[LNB]'But it looks difficult to bring it in because if you are committed to contracts of three and four years, you cannot reduce wages from one year to the next just because UEFA has kicked in some new rules. It is workable over a longer period but not from one season to the next.'[LNB]Often steamrollered in the transfer market by Chelsea's muscle, Arsenal have suffered a similar fate on the pitch in recent duels with their London rivals. Arsenal have won only two of 14 games since Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 and it looked like men against boys last season, when Carlo Ancelotti's team won home and away on their way to the title. [LNB]But Wenger retaliated: 'What, for you, is physical strength? How can you explain Spain won the World Cup and Barcelona beat Chelsea in the Champions League? [LNB]'Football is not only down to physique. It's down to intelligence, technique, mobility. There is not one way. That's what makes it interesting. [LNB]'Did Didier Drogba score last week against Manchester City? No. He played against Kolo Toure and when Toure played here you said Toure did not have the strength to handle him. [LNB]'History does not win you games. If we turn up with a great performance, I am convinced we will beat them. [LNB]'Are Chelsea a good team? Yes, but we can beat a good team. It is easier to play them when they have lost two games than two weeks ago, that is for sure. Every defeat makes you just a fraction smaller.' [LNB] Didier Drogba: Arsenal's nemesis goes back to his roots in north-west ParisThe Friday Five: Classic Arsenal v Chelsea clashes in recent historyWenger insists Arsenal can beat Chelsea...even without FabregasCHELSEA FC
