Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 7y

Man United's Jose Mourinho: I don't get the respect Arsene Wenger does

MANCHESTER -- Jose Mourinho claims Arsene Wenger receives greater respect for his achievements as a manager, despite the Manchester United manager insisting that the two men are now the most successful coaches currently working in the Premier League.

Mourinho faces Wenger as United manager for the first time on Saturday aiming to extend a personal record against the Frenchman that has seen him lose just once -- the 2015 Community Shield -- in 15 games.

But while Mourinho claims that his head-to-head against Wenger is irrelevant, the Portuguese suggested that, overall, the Arsenal manager has earned more widespread recognition for his achievements.

"In the Premier League, just the Premier League, tomorrow is the game between the two managers with the best records since Sir Alex Ferguson is not here anymore," Mourinho told a news conference. "We are speaking about six or seven Premier League titles between us. I have three, Mr Wenger has three or four, I don't know.

"It means we should be respected, even in periods when our results are not the best. I think Mr. Wenger has that respect, but I don't think I have. My last title was 18 months ago, not 18 years ago, but I don't feel I have that respect.

"My record is good, I have won nine championships and want to win a fourth Premier League. I am in the club where I want to be, that is as simple as that."

With United in danger of falling nine points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with a defeat on Saturday, Mourinho insists that the priority is a victory for his team, rather than to extend his own record against Wenger.

"My record against Mr Wenger is not important," Mourinho said. "I don't play against managers; my teams plays against other managers' teams.

"A football match is an isolated event, nothing to do with what happened before or happen in future. I don't speak about individual records.

"The record of any other manager being good or bad, it is about what you get globally as a team -- our results."

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