Cordial Wenger and Mourinho in salvage mode
ManU to face Gunners in a key English battle today
AFP
AFP, LONDON: There has been a telling absence of mind games between Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho ahead of Sundays encounter between the teams.
Arsenal-United games used to be furious, season-defining epics, while Wengers relationship with Mourinho has crackled with animosity for much of the past 13 years.
But with both sides struggling to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and eyeing silverware elsewhere the order of the day ahead of the contest at the Emirates Stadium has been contrition.
He doesnt need to make peace, Mourinho said when told that Wenger had expressed willingness to bury the hatchet with him.
When there is peace, we dont have to have problems. I am a big boy. Im in football all my life. I know a problem on the pitch the next day is not a problem at all. In the last match at Old Trafford, we shook hands before, after. I remember that I met him in the corridor for the press conferences and we shook hands again.
So for me, not a problem at all and I think he will be really pleased with me that I am going to change my team against Arsenal.
Mourinhos most pressing concern is what kind of team he will be able to field, following Uniteds exertions against Celta Vigo on Thursday, when they procured a 1-0 aggregate lead in their Europa League semi-final.
Ashley Young joined Uniteds injury list after appearing to sustain a hamstring problem, while match-winner Marcus Rashford, whose second-half free-kick settled the game, came off late on with a pronounced limp.
Uniteds defensive injury worries are easing, with Eric Bailly having overcome a problem he sustained in last weekends 1-1 draw against Swansea City and Chis Smalling returning from a six-week lay-off with a knee complaint.
But Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain sidelined, while Marouane Fellaini is suspended.
The only player who Mourinho has confirmed will start for United is goalkeeper David de Gea, who was rested for the trip to Vigo. Mourinho has never tasted defeat against Wenger in 12 league games and the Arsenal manager may not get many better opportunities to alter that statistic.
Mourinho has publicly written off Uniteds chances of finishing in the top four, but whereas his side can qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, there is no safety net for Arsenal.
