The feud between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger has been well documented over the years, but a new book on the Portuguese tactician has revealed how deep the rivalry got.
While the pair have clashed on many occasions through the media as they exchanged insults and digs aimed at each other, they were also involved in a shoving match at Stamford Bridge not so long ago.
From labels of ‘specialist in failure’ to questioning transfer business, all topics have been covered in their war of words but never has there been such anger and a threat of physical violence until now.
According to Sportsmail, who are serialising a new book by journalist Rob Beasley, Mourinho’s hatred for Wenger goes beyond football as he insisted at one point that he wanted to ‘break his face’.
“When Mr Wenger criticises CFC and Man United over the deal with [Juan] Mata…I will find him one day outside a football pitch and I will break his face,” Mourinho allegedly said in regards to Wenger.
Fortunately, the damage was kept to the football pitch in their next meeting as Chelsea ran out 6-0 winners in Wenger’s 1,000th game as manager.
However, later that year the two men clashed again as Wenger placed his hands on Mourinho in the technical area during the 2-0 win for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with the pair having to be split up by the fourth official.
“He [Wenger] was asking for a red card and pressing the ref in my technical area. I told him to go back to his area. He pushed me.
“I told him, “Here you do that, you know I can’t react, but I will meet you one day in the street”.”
Beasley goes on to insist that he spoke to Mourinho about publishing the quotes and story, but the pair agreed that it was ‘best to leave it’ as it would only reflect badly on the ‘Special One’.
Nevertheless, two years or so on and the quotes have come to light as it will undoubtedly stoke the fires yet again between the two managers who will come face-to-face on November 19 when Arsenal visit Old Trafford.