Former Ireland international Damien Delaney was on Wednesday’s Football Show and spoke about what Marouane Chamakh told him of life under Arsene Wenger.
While the Frenchman had Arsenal playing some lovely football, he was not too fussed about his players’ overall physical condition.
“I have funny stories about people. Marouane Chamakh came to Crystal Palace when I was there and I often asked Marouane, ‘What was he like?’
“And he said, ‘he was very easy. He wanted his players to be happy. There was no such thing as pre-hab or gym-work.’ They didn’t do it.
“They never ever did gym-work and then you wonder why for years Arsenal had the worst injury record in the Premier League.
“They had the most soft tissue injuries in the Premier League for years,” Delaney said.
Potential Bayern job?
The former Arsenal manager has also emerged as a potential replacement for Nika Kovac at Bayern Munich after the German giants sacked the Croatian at the weekend.
However, Delaney said he believes it is unlikely that the Frenchman will take the reins at Bayern.
“It sounds like a story that Wenger put out really and he’s trying to drum up a bit of publicity for himself there.
“Or his agent or whoever he has working for him right now. I just don’t see it. The hierarchy there at Bayern just seem far too forward-thinking, smart guys, you know they’re real football people.
“I mean Wenger was fantastic but I think he’s had his day,” Delaney commented.
Former RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick hyas ruled out the possibility of managing the German champions while Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has also said he is not interested.
While there seems to currently be a lack of suitable candidates, the former Crystal Palace player just doesn’t think Wenger would suit the Bavarians.
“A club like Bayern, I mean they’re at the very pinnacle of football. They’re cutting edge.
“They want to be ultra-modern and ultra everything. Wenger’s not [modern]. Wenger’s more about putting a philosophy in place where the football is ‘developing a way’ as he did at Arsenal.
“It just doesn’t marry up. I just don’t see it,” Delaney commented.
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