Source: Daily_Mail
Bad loser Arsene Wenger stands by decision to snub Manchester City manager Mark Hughes
Arsene Wenger has admitted he is a bad loser but does not regret his refusal to shake Mark Hughes' hand. 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. 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. It's good to talk: Wenger (right) and Hughes had words by the side of the pitch'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. '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. 'I act in accordance with the principles I think are important on the football pitch and I maintain exactly what I said and did.' Play ball: Wenger flashes his City counterpart a serious lookWhen 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. '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. 'I maintain exactly the way I behave and do not regret one second of what I did.'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. Arshavin, who stands 5ft 7in tall, complained that Arsenal 'don't have many tall players' and are 'not very good'. But Wenger insisted he was referring to the injury-enforced absence of Abou Diaby, Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie - Arsenal's biggest players. 'I read the original interview and it is not exactly what he said,' the Frenchman added.'"He said at the moment we are missing some players and that makes it difficult, but the Premier League is difficult. 'You can understand sometimes that after a big-game loss their disappointment gets a little high. Little annoyed: Gunners star Arshavin'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.' Wenger admitted Arsenal will host Stoke at Emirates Stadium demoralised by recent setbacks. 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. Arsenal trail leaders Chelsea by 11 points yet Wenger refuses to concede the title race. '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. 'We have a game in hand on the other teams and I believe that Chelsea and Manchester United can drop points.' 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