Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the timing of his decision to leave the club at the end of the season was not really his decision.
Wenger said last week that he would be leaving the club after nearly 22 years in charge in North London and that he ‘felt that the end of the season was the right time for him to step down as the club’s manager’.
However, when pressed on his resignation ahead of the Gunners Europa League tie with Atletico Madrid on Thursday, Wenger indicated that the timing of his resignation wasn’t exactly voluntary.
“The timing wasn’t really my decision,” admitted Wenger. “For the rest, I have spoken about it already.
“Some people can make the difference between moments of unhappiness and global satisfaction for what I brought to the club. We live in a very emotional society where people can express how they feel.”
Wenger said that he would look to continue working in football after his time with Arsenal comes to an end but that he’s not sure if there’s a perfect way to say goodbye to the club.
“I don’t know. I don’t look for myself,” the 68-year-old replied when asked if winning the Europa League would be the perfect send off to his time with the club. “I want to win and continue to do what I have done my whole life.
“The next game is in Europe and then we face (Manchester) United. I want to win those games.
“Is there a perfect goodbye? I don’t know. I want to do as well as I can. We have been challenged mentally and I have seen my players respond.
“If I can add that to what I have done, I will be very happy. We have to put a performance in on the pitch. We face a very strong team, the toughest opponent in this competition. We must focus on the quality of our performance.
“This group of players deserve something special and I want to do it for them and achieve it with them. My biggest satisfaction would be to be successful with the players I have.”
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