Gael Clichy warns Arsenal fans to be careful what they wish for as he hails 'perfect' Arsene Wenger
'The manager does not really deserve what he is getting,' Clichy said after Sunday's 2-2 draw
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City’s Gael Clichy has warned Arsenal fans to be careful what they wish for, insisting that Arsene Wenger might just be the “perfect man” for the club if they invest behind him, and said that his former boss does not deserve the nature of recent criticism.
Having left Arsenal in 2011, Clichy returned on Sunday for City’s 2-2 draw, that saw another fan protest against Wenger’s management before the game. The full-back, however, spoke out in defence of the 67-year-old.
“It is hard, yes, because the manager does not really deserve what he is getting,” Clichy said. “I can understand because football is free for everybody to have opinions so you cannot stop that. And you cannot only think about the past because it is also about the present. But I don’t think many managers could have done what he has in the last 10 years – you know the story better than me. You always want something new when you are used to something and what you get is probably most of the time not better than what you have so you have to be careful what you wish for.
“I’m not going to get into any detail but I do believe he’s the right man. He has been the right man for so many years and I am listening to what people are saying. If the club is spending more money and they have the players they need, then perhaps Wenger is the perfect man. If you take him off and you bring someone else with the same structure, would he be better? Would he do better? I’m not sure. It’s not for me to say if it’s in the right hands or not but I do believe what he has done in the past is amazing.”
Clichy admitted that City players couldn’t help notice a more tense atmosphere at the Emirates.
“It is always difficult when teams are in this kind of form. Most of the time you can hear what people are saying. They are looking for revenge: they want to show the fans, they want to show the manager… I think we did well. The atmosphere is what it is.
“Of course, I was here before. I really hope everything can be sorted but it is not only because of the atmosphere we felt we could have done better, it is because of the way it is when you play for a big club like City. You have to try to win and go for all the big points – home or away. We are more focused on how we had to play to get the points than thinking they are not in the best moment.”
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