O’Neill reopens Wenger war
Saturday 27th February 2010, 11:32AM GMT.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill has reopened his war of words with Arsene Wenger after slamming the Arsenal boss’ claim the Carling Cup is a meaningless trophy.
The rival Premier League managers were recently at odds when Wenger claimed Villa were a long-ball team following their Villa Park stalemate.
Wenger courted controversy when he said “if you win the League Cup you cannot say you win trophies” but O’Neill, whose side take on Manchester United in tomorrow’s final, has hit back.
“I know the Arsenal manager has been pretty scathing all the time in the League Cup,” said O’Neill. “When it suits it’s a great competition and when it doesn’t suit then it’s not.
“It would be interesting to see the team he played against Wigan Athletic in the semi-final second leg of the competition (in 2006 which they lost). I would have said it was very, very strong.
“It’s an important competition. If Manchester United and Chelsea can treat this competition with the utmost respect then that would really be enough for me.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Warnock has urged fans to be Villa’s 12th man tomorrow.
Over 31,000 claret and blue supporters will make the trip to Wembley as Villa bid to end their 14-year silverware hoodoo.
“The fans at the semi-final with the flags were fantastic,” said Warnock. “It was like the European nights at Villa and those are the nights you want to play in front of and hopefully the fans can do that again at Wembley.”
And Warnock admits they will have their work cut out stopping Wayne Rooney.
“He is one of those players I love watching on TV,” said Warnock. “You would put him, (Lionel) Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo in the same bracket as the three best in the world. Hopefully we can stop him but it will be a tough task.”
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Martin you have a final to prepare for tomorrow, don’t be a bitter man. Why drag up the ’06 semi when arsenal were in the ’07 finall with basically a young team of squad players. Like many managers before you , you should listen and hear what is said before having your tantrum..I wish Villa all the best at Wembley.
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o’niell is truly a bit of a bleater, isn’t he?
If this was Wenger commenting on something on’niell had said, the media and all the little inglunder pullocks (like graham poll and their ilk), would be spluttering and incandescent going on about Wenger “moaning” etc.
Shouldn’t o’niell be focusing on his upcoming cup final he’s so excited about (ostensibly)?
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What a bitter little man.
Should he not be worried about trying to prevent his team from getting stuffed tomorrow?
Racist England does not like Wenger and there will be a day where people around the world will stop watching premiership football because of petty little xenophobics in the media.
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