Following quotes from Owen Hargreaves questioning the treatment he received on a long-term knee injury at Manchester United , Arsene Wenger was quizzed by the media at his weekly press conference on the relationship between his players and the club’s medical staff and whether he had ever forced a player to take to the pitch unfit.
Hargreaves, who had played only ten minutes of football in three years before making his debut for Manchester City on Wednesday night, is quoted as saying he received injections from the Old Trafford doctors which made him feel like a ‘guinea pig’, before playing for United carrying muscle injuries which forced him from the field shortly after kick-off in his only appearance last season.
Reflecting on the scenario laid out by the England international, Wenger revealed his views on the situation at Arsenal:
“My reaction is that it is not the responsibility of the manager, it is the responsibility of the doctor. The doctor takes the responsibility to treat the players.
“If the players feel badly treated they have to turn back to the medical department.
“You do not want to interfere with that, I believe that in a club, and any company, everybody does the job they are paid for and doesn’t interfere too much with the job of others.”
Asked if he had ever pushed his squad members to play despite knowing they were not fully fit, Wenger vehemently denied any such action:
“I never did it, I never forced anybody to play. I’ve stopped many who have wanted to play and did not play them. Personally I don’t feel concerned by that problem at all.
“My belief is that if a player is not 100 per cent don’t play him, no matter how good he is…I’ve always stuck to that.”
Pressed for further reaction on the specifics of Hargreaves’ annoyance with Manchester United, Wenger wisely made clear that he was not in any situation to pass judgement on an issue affecting another club.
“I don’t know Hargreaves. I cannot interfere in that, because I don’t know what happened. Our society is sick enough of people talking about stuff they don’t know about. When I don’t know, I don’t know.”
“Our society is sick enough of people talking about stuff they don’t know about. When I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Great quote.
If we ever forced Wenger out, we’d regret it just for how true that statement is.
He certainly didn’t force Denilson to play all last season, and that was when he was on the pitch.
“Our fans are sick enough of people talking about players they don’t know about. When you don’t know, you should stfu.”
I did a mini lol, classic
Our society is sick enough of people talking about stuff they don’t know about. When I don’t know, I don’t know.”
There are moments when Arsene Wenger use of the English language is so enlighting… what a quote from him on a mild September afternoon.
Take a bow Mr Wenger
I’m convinced it’s a good part of the problem that some of the more agricultural managers have with him, the ability to speak a foreign language more eloquently than they can manage with their mother tongue.
At least he doesn’t add “top, top” into every second sentence like Top Top Harry.
What a well structured quote from an intelligent man. Wenger is a legend. The media is absolutely sick, reporting and regurgitating what they dont know. we (Arsenal FC) received too much negative reporting, but we shall prevail. “Aluta continua”
Ol’ sly, witt and intelligent Wenger!
great quote by wenger but i wish he had stopped talking a long time go and not just now when it’s open season on him. in the past he had an opinion about everything and he would give it to you with little resistance, and don’t tell me that he is god and knows everything. it’s just more delusions from wenger. i don’t want to near nothing from wenger or the team until they have sorted themselves out and start punching their weight again. untill then shut it.
“Our society is sick enough of people talking about stuff they don’t know about. When I don’t know, I don’t know.”
In the words of ‘Arry: “Top Top Quote”
What about cesc last season (or the one before) where wenger openly admitted he had to risk him??
In fact Wenger just translates french to english in real time. I would have thought after all these years he would have learned that it doesn’t work that way. Given that he is so clever and all that! Makes him look good here though.
maybe its time for the manager to talk to the DOCTOR. sometimes i feel wenger isnt close with the players. he treats them too proffesionally. look at giggs, scholes and the ugly neville at united they will lift the team when things becomes difficult. when our players play and struggle there is no1 to lift the team apart from van persie. although we signed experienced players, they are still new to the club and doesnt have a bond with the club/team/manager. wenger also needs to be a bit more open to new ideas. i don’t really know why he felt… Read more »
“Our society is sick enough of people talking about stuff they don’t know about. When I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Quality.
ONE ARSENE WENGER.
I’m with the comment from 5am, he played Cesc at Barca when he was barely half fit. Arsene says he wont play a player unless 100% fit and has always stuck to that…..sorry you clearly haven’t and it’s these frequent contradictions (I don’t expect anyone to leave…. Huh!) that invite at best surprise and at worst ridicule.
Where’s my daily dose of the arsecast gone?
Re: daily arsecast: maybe this is just an extreme example of 5’ish, I miss it too!
There’s a difference between forcing a player to play and letting a player that wants to play play. There is also a difference between playing someone who cannot sprint (Hargreaves said he had 2 muscle injuries at that time and that once he saw he was playing he planned to play 45 mins without sprinting) and playing a guy that just recovered from a strain, but is maybe not yet 100%.
agreed
[…] from the team, and wasn’t suffering from any injury. I don’t know about that but if Le Boss says he doesn’t play any player who is unfit, I would trust him I guess. Anyhow, the midfielder seems to have put his injury woes behind him, […]
[…] 2011, about a month after Wenger admitted to playing Wilshere through “the red zone”, he said: “My belief is that if a player is not 100 per cent don’t play him, no matter how good he […]