Weekly Football News, October 1 2013
Benitez antagonises Chelsea with Wenger acclaim
Rafael Benitez has taken the opportunity to criticise his former employers at Chelsea by insisting that Arsene Wenger rather than Jose Mourinho is the best manager in the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of Napoli's Champions League clash with the Gunners at the Emirates on Tuesday night, Benitez claimed Wenger was the number one in England.
The Spaniard suffered considerable angst because of his treatment at the hands of Chelsea followers during his interim spell at the club last season – despite winning the Europa League trophy.
However, Mourinho has won just three of his opening six Premier League fixtures and his side lost at home to FC Basel in the Champions League opener a fortnight ago.
By contrast, after losing their first domestic fixture at home to Aston Villa, Arsenal have gone on a superb winning run to storm to the top of the table and have added German international playmaker Mesut Ozil to their squad.
"I am expecting a strong team because I think Arsene Wenger is the best coach in the Premier League," said Benitez, who won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.
"They have signed good players, at this point everything going well for them.
"Wenger is a great manager, a great person, someone who knows the league here in England.
"He has experience in Europe, Arsenal is always top four and he is doing great job.
"Hopefully he can win (the Champions League), but another year, not this one."
Mourinho walks out on media
Jose Mourinho revealed his irritation about the media's constant questioning of players omitted from Chelsea's squad by walking out of his press conference to discuss the Blues' Champions League tie with Steaua Bucharest.
Having faced questions about the recent absence of Juan Mata, Chelsea's player-of-the-season last year, the Portuguese was unhappy to be asked about his reasoning for omitting Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.
"You are for three weeks speaking about Mata, and now it's De Bruyne," Mourinho stormed.
"So you aren't interested in the players that are playing? You are interested in the players not playing.
"He [de Bruyne] is not selected because I didn't like the match he played against Swindon and I didn't like the way he was training.
"But you have this tendency to only ask about the guys that are not selected. See you Tuesday."
Kagawa: I must improve to survive at Old Trafford
Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa has admitted that he must improve to become a success at Old Trafford.
Last month, Kagawa seemed to criticise new Manchester United manager David Moyes for his lack of Premier League action in his second season in England since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
The struggling playmaker was quick to note that his displeasure had been lost in translation, however. And now the 24-year-old has provided the most honest appraisal of his recent form for United.
"I need to improve more and more, or I cannot survive at this club," said Kagawa, who was substituted at half-time during Saturday's 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion.
"I have to take this in a positive way and keep trying to do my best."
Manchester United travel to face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Mancini in at Galatasaray
Roberto Mancini has been selected to replace Fatih Terim as the manager of Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The former Manchester City manager was sacked from his role with the deposed Premier League champions at the end of last season after the club's disappointing title defence and shock loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.
Mancini must arrest a patchy opening to Gala's own title defence after winning just once in their first five matches of the new Turkish domestic season and suffering a 6-1 home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Despite leading the club to a record-breaking 19th domestic crown in May, Terim was ousted from his third stint as Gala manager after failing to agree a new two-year deal.
Compiled by Marc Fox
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