Arsene Wenger has received a tribute from old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson before his 1,000th Arsenal game - but admitted it is “impossible” to be friends with current foe Jose Mourinho.
Ferguson said: “I congratulate Arsene in reaching this momentous landmark. Having also reached the same milestone at one club, I cannot emphasise enough the level of dedication, resilience as well as sacrifice required and for that I have for the utmost admiration.
"Over the years we enjoyed some fantastic battles and you could say we had survived together and respected each other’s efforts to play good football.
"I always enjoy watching Arsene’s sides - Arsenal play the right way. Perhaps the biggest compliment I could give Arsene is that I could never be anything other than competitive with my rival for 17 years.”
In response, Wenger said: “Tributes from fellow managers like Sir Alex mean the most, because they know how difficult it is.”
The Frenchman takes his Gunners to Mourinho's Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, seeking to close the gap on the Premier League leaders to a single point - and with a game still in hand.
Wenger refused to continue his war of words with the Portuguese, who dubbed him “a specialist in failure” last month.
While he has buried the hatchet with now-retired Manchester United legend Ferguson, the Arsenal manager insisted his feud with Mourinho will continue as long as they are fighting one another for honours.
“Do Jose and I have to be competitive? Yes. I think if I start any game with you I will have to win. That’s our job," said Wenger. “It is impossible to be friends. You cannot be friends.
"The real sport on that front is rugby. They don’t kiss each other before the game when they walk in the tunnel - they go out and are ready for war. They become friends after the game.”
Wenger feels this Stamford Bridge showdown is “the game of the season for us”.
He added: “We are in a period where every point is vital now, especially against your direct opponents. It is for us the most important game of the season now.”
Wenger's 1,000th Arsenal match: Football pays tribute
Ian Wright, ex-Arsenal striker "From the outside he doesn't look like a manager - he looks more like a professor and he didn't play football at a very high level - but he is determined and meticulous in everything he does.
"When he came to the club, we didn't know what to expect - but right from the start his methods were completely different from George Graham and Bruce Rioch. Training drills timed to the second, not allowed to have any sugar in your tea or coffee. It was a real eye-opener for me.
"His first game in charge was away at Blackburn, and although we were staying in a hotel near the ground we all had to get up at 8.30 in the morning to do a communal stretch in the ballroom. We were all thinking, 'What the f*** is going on here?'
"It took some time to get used to it, because you are talking about a complete left-turn when you have been used to straight lines. But after two or three months we started to feel the benefit, and when we won the Double in 1998 we won the last 12 games because we were a lot stronger.
"He looks you in the eye, treats you like an adult and he just wants you to enjoy football. But one thing about him, which a lot of people don't appreciate, is how competitive he is."
Ray Parlour, former Arsenal midfielder "My ex-wife said she tried to save my career because we were going out too much and whatever. I always remember the morning it came out in the papers, he came into the medical room - it was packed with all the players - and he made sure everyone heard this. He said, 'I have read the papers this morning. It is not very good news for you. Your ex-wife wants 40 per cent of your future earnings. Can't be good. She says she saved your career.' It all went quiet. And he went. 'I saved your career as well - where's my 40 per cent?' and walked out. He was laughing and everyone else was laughing.
"He was brilliant. That is just the type of character he was. You could see he was very sensible but he always had good fun off the pitch. He could laugh at himself."
Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager "The word I would use to describe him is 'inspirational'. When he came over, he set the tone for coaching in this country. He made coaches sit up and think - and players. From that, other people have added other things, but he was probably the first one."
Roberto Martinez, Everton and ex-Wigan manager "The word I would use to sum him up is 'style'. I have got huge admiration for him and for what he has brought to our [English] football in general. He has got a real love and passion for the game.
"And he has always been very, very careful in having the right details in how he plays. It gives you wins, and the way that you win is as important as the result. You look at the style and the quality that Arsenal have had down the years - they have always been an enjoyable team to watch. That is down to the manager. He had to be stubborn and very hard working and strong.
"He has had to rebuild squads. I think his biggest strength is that he has never moaned about having to replace players or having to invest in youngsters.
"There is a genuine approach about not needing lots of money but carrying on building a football club and making sure that you are always among the teams in the English league, which is an incredible achievement when you think about it with the investment elsewhere."
Nigel Winterburn, ex-Arsenal defender "I think where he was very clever is he was almost saying to the players - especially the older players - 'Trust me. Go with the training methods and let's see where it takes us.' And within the first week, I loved the training sessions. I was reinvigorated. They were short, sharp, enjoyable."
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