Arsene Wenger has ruled himself out of the running to become the new manager of France and confirmed his loyalty to Arsenal.
Wenger has often been drawn up as a potential candidate whenever the Les Bleus post has been vacant in the past and has once again been mentioned as a potential boss, after Laurent Blanc resigned last week following the French’s Euro 2012 exit.
The Gunners chief, who took over the club at Highbury in 1996, still has two years remaining on his current contract and has once again moved to pledge his future to the North London outfit.
“There are a lot of names,” said Wenger.
“But me, I will be very busy with Arsenal where my contract still runs for two years.”
France improved on their abysmal 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa by advancing from Group D of the European champions after facing England, Ukraine and Sweden but were duly eliminated in the last eight by hosts Spain.
Which brings us nicely onto the next topic, as Wenger has been criticising La Roja’s style of play and Vicente Del Bosque’s decision to often play without a recognised striker.
The Spaniards have been blasted by many for playing six midfielders and even labelled as boring for their style of play, and Wenger believes that the motives of the team have changed over time.
“These guys are more than outstanding footballers; they are really intelligent and they are winners,” Wenger added.
“I want to give them credit for that. However, they have betrayed their philosophy and turned it into something more negative. Originally they wanted possession in order to attack and win the game; now it seems to be first and foremost a way not to lose.”
The Gunners boss also feels that former captain Cesc Fabregas will get the nod tonight ahead of Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo.
“What should he do? I would be inclined to think that because he tried Alvaro Negredo up front in the last game, and it didn’t work, he will start with Fabregas as a ‘false nine’.”
Spain take on Italy in the Euro 2012 final tonight.
Matt Cotton
@FindingCotton
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