Arsene Wenger finally got one over on Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in the largely unsatisfactory setting of Wembley on Community Shield day. Still, after 13 failed attempts to defeat Mourinho, the result was welcome.
To paraphrase/butcher the words of Vitas Gerulaitis, no manager avoids defeat against Arsene Wenger 14 times in a row.
After years of sniping, Wenger decided not to shake Mourinho's hands at the end, perhaps reasoning that it is better to perform such a gesture after a victory. He spoke afterwards about his belief in 'respect'.
Mourinho was as statesmanlike as he is ever going to get after the game, saying diplomatically that it wasn't a problem that Wenger didn't move in his direction.
Today, he felt free enough to take a few jabs, when speaking to Talksport.
"My perspective is one thing is the streets and the other thing is a football stadium.
"As a manager in a football stadium, I never refuse a handshake with a rival. By respect of my club and by respect of football I would never refuse a handshake with a football manager in a football stadium."
He went onto refer to his faultless disciplinary record last year and made a direct reference, without naming him, to Wenger pushing him in the technical area in Stamford Bridge last season.
"I am very happy because last season I had fantastic behaviour on the touchline. I was never sent to the stands, I was never punished for my behaviour.
“I always had good relations with the fourth official I had a new experience in my career, which is always welcome, because I was pushed in the technical area by another manager and it was a good experience for me to keep my emotional control."
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