Wenger - I did see it

Gunners boss admits he protected players

Last updated: 14th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger - I did see it

Wenger: Sees everything

At times I saw it, and I said I didn't to protect the player, because I could not find any rational explanation to defend him.

Arsene Wenger.
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Arsene Wenger has admitted there have been occasions where he has strayed from the truth in a bid to protect his players.

The Arsenal manager very rarely publicly criticises members of his own squad, preferring to gloss over controversial incidents by claiming he did not see what occurred.

But the Frenchman has now confirmed that his supposed myopia is often due to the fact that he is unable to explain a player's actions.

Asked if he had ever been economical with the truth, the Frenchman told the Daily Mail: "Yes, because you are thinking, 'Why has he (a player) done that?' and you know you cannot explain it.

"At times I saw it, and I said I didn't to protect the player, because I could not find any rational explanation to defend him.

"This is a job where you have to have an optimistic view of human nature or you become paranoid. You always have to think that a guy wants to do well.

"A coach is there to help. He must think that if he helps in the correct way the players will respond. You cannot be suspicious."

Connections

Wenger also spoke about his long-term project at Arsenal and admitted he would have been "betraying his beliefs" if he had abandoned it to go and work for Real Madrid.

"I want to go to the end of my job here. I built this team, I want to deliver with this team and I feel that if I left I would in some way have betrayed my beliefs," he said.

"It is nothing to do with what Real Madrid have done. I just couldn't see leaving this team at this stage of their development."

Wenger stressed the main objective for him is to create a coherent team, rather than to try and build a side around a handful of key individuals.

"I believe in working in our job, creating connections between the players. I believe in what makes football great," Wenger said.

"It is a team sport, a collective sport. You can win because you are more a team, or because you have more individual talent. What is interesting for me is the team ethic.

"I love the Davis Cup, but I am not a big fan of individual tennis. It is when sport is about the team that I like it. I like the Ryder Cup."