Wenger hails old foe Fergie as manager of the year

AFP - 26 April 2007 12:32

Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (seen here 23 April 2007) and his achievement in building his third great Manchester United team by saying he deserves to be named as the Premiership´s manager of the year.

LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson's achievement in building his third great Manchester United team by saying he deserves to be named as the Premiership's manager of the year.

Wenger said Steve Coppell also deserved recognition for establishing Reading in the top flight following their promotion as Championship winners last season, and for their attractive style.

The Frenchman has clashed frequently with Ferguson over the years but he had no hesitation in naming his old adversary when asked for his manager of the year, while snubbing the claims of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, whose side could yet complete a clean sweep of all four competitions they have entered.

"I feel this year Sir Alex Ferguson, because he's in a position to fight on every front," Wenger said. "And Steve Coppell, who is in a position where nobody expected him to be and has a team who does not play negatively - they have a positive attitude everywhere they go."

Wenger, meanwhile, admits that the season has petered out into a big let-down for his youthful side following last term's march to the Champions League final.

"This year we had a massive disappointment, I feel overall, especially in going out of the Champions League the way we went out," he said.

"But it's part of a growing process as well to handle this kind of disappointment and to still not let your disappointment stop your progression."