Bad loser Arsene Wenger stands by decision to snub Manchester City manager Mark Hughes

04 December 2009 15:10
Arsene Wenger has admitted he is a bad loser but does not regret his refusal to shake Mark Hughes' hand. [LNB]Wenger was condemned by Hughes for failing to accept his offer of a handshake after Arsenal's 3-0 Carling Cup defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night.[LNB] But the Gunners boss insisted he would behave exactly the same way again, though he refused to confirm a report stating he had been verbally abused by Hughes during the match. [LNB] It's good to talk: Wenger (right) and Hughes had words by the side of the pitch[LNB]'Tomorrow, by coincidence, I am managing my 500th game at Arsenal and I believe I have shaken hands 497 times,' he said. 'I believe that it is a ceremonial courtesy. But the most important is not the ceremonial but the courtesy of behaviour. [LNB]'I don't deny that I am a bad loser but on this occasion I would have done exactly the same if we had won or lost the game. [LNB]'I act in accordance with the principles I think are important on the football pitch and I maintain exactly what I said and did.'[LNB] [LNB] Play ball: Wenger flashes his City counterpart a serious look[LNB]When asked if he had been insulted by Hughes, Wenger responded: 'I'm used to treating this kind of thing with the needed distance. I do not want to make a fuss. [LNB]'There are incidents on the touchline but you never heard me ever say anything about another manager after the game, in a press conference or after during the week. [LNB]'I maintain exactly the way I behave and do not regret one second of what I did.'[LNB]Wenger claimed comments attributed to diminutive Russian Andrey Arshavin in the aftermath of last Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea had been taken out of context. [LNB]  Arshavin, who stands 5ft 7in tall, complained that Arsenal 'don't have many tall players' and are 'not very good'. [LNB]But Wenger insisted he was referring to the injury-enforced absence of Abou Diaby, Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie - Arsenal's biggest players. [LNB]'I read the original interview and it is not exactly what he said,' the Frenchman added.[LNB]'"He said at the moment we are missing some players and that makes it difficult, but the Premier League is difficult. [LNB]'You can understand sometimes that after a big-game loss their disappointment gets a little high. [LNB]Little annoyed: Gunners star Arshavin[LNB]'We were shocked by what happened on Sunday. Sometimes you can't take every word a player says after a game literally, especially when it's translated.'[LNB] Wenger admitted Arsenal will host Stoke at Emirates Stadium demoralised by recent setbacks. [LNB]The defeat at City was their third successive domestic loss, but more importantly the emphatic nature of their collapse against Chelsea has once more highlighted their frailty. [LNB]Arsenal trail leaders Chelsea by 11 points yet Wenger refuses to concede the title race. [LNB]'We are disheartened. We are not light-hearted at the moment, I don't deny that,' he said. 'But I believe it is a good way to see how strong we react. I believe the players are disappointed but highly motivated and determined to get back on track in a convincing way. [LNB]'We have a game in hand on the other teams and I believe that Chelsea and Manchester United can drop points.' [LNB] Manchester City manager Mark Hughes keen to move on from row with Arsenal's Arsene WengerFurious Wenger snubs Hughes after his men are dumped out of Carling CupVIDEO SPECIAL: Arsene Wenger reaches Premier League 500 games in charge of Arsenal'At least he's no hypocrite': Roy Keane backs Arsene Wenger in handshake rowTiny Arsenal cannot compete with Premier League's big boys - ArshavinThe Wenger debate: What has turned the Arsenal boss into a bad loser?VIDEO SPECIAL: Arsene Wenger's pitch battles with Jol, Mourinho, Ferguson, Pardew, O'Neill and Big SamWenger stands by his decision to field young Gunners in defeat to Man CityManchester City 3 Arsenal 0: Tevez on target as rich kids reach last fourARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail