Has Wenger made a blunder?

Note the question mark - this is not Wenger bashing, its a genuine question...

Tonight, Wenger has praised the Europa League as a good competition. It strikes me as a very odd thing to say on the eve of a game where we likely need to win to make the CL.

Is he trying to take pressure off the players? I just think it could backfire, and the players will think they have somehow achieved something in the eyes of the manager by making the Europa LEague.

I am tired of falling expectations at the club. First it was 'we're always in the top 2', then 'We're always in the CL'.. now it seems the Europa League is good enough. Where will it stop?

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/7751945/Wenger-defends-Europa-League

 

Don't think so.
Its a decent completion and while its not the CL its good nonetheless

 

Perhaps in a few years we can delight just in the League Cup being a good competition. I see little good coming out of him talking about the Europa League at this crucial time.

He should have answered - I assume it was a question he was asked - that we are 100% focused on the CL qualification and not even thinking about the Europa League. Let him talk about the Europa League AFTER tomorrow's game.

 

Look, we're basically ****ed if we end up on Channel 5. The EL revenue is pathetic compared to CL revenue. We'd lose RvP, we'd struggle to attract top players, it would be terrible. It's top 4 or nothing,

 

If we make the EL I would back wenger to do what Harry did and play the kids. It really is a joke competition of the highest order. Badly designed and pointless.

 

I would rather Wenger hadn't said this on the eve of what is basically a do or die game for Champions League qualification.
If we didn't qualify and went into the Europa, then by all means say this and give the players impetus to win it, but the timing isn't great imo.

 

He's royally ****ed this one up. He should have said it's CL or bust, give the players something to play for, i wouldn't be suprised if we took it easy tomorrow now.

 

Judging how we perform with the pressure on I dont see the problem with wenger taking the pressure off with his comments. Also playing away will help us massively imo.

But all this is irrelevant If A. Ramsey is on the team sheet we might as well just give up.

 

I do feel that the players lack belief and motivation in the do or die games. I just dont see how his comments today can help.

 

Maybe he'd been at Fergie's wine? He wouldn't have said this if he were sober, surely he can see the importance of a top 4 finish.

 

He's said some strange and worrying things the last 2 days... he's also said it will be a quiet summer because he already has too many players - citing Diaby of all people as strengthening the team next year. Does he really believe he will not get injured again??? Surely he wont make the same mistake AGAIN.

He's also said he thinks finshing third will have a bearing on whether RVP stays - so surely he must know its 3rd or bust.

 

He will make the same mistakes and we wont buy anyone good enough. Its obvious. I have learnt from the last 2-3 years. We will get linked with everyone and buy nobody of any note.

 

*cough*Hire Jurgen Klopp *cough*

 

I just dont think the fans will put up with it again. Wenger is in the last chance saloon. Forgeting next season, I am seeing a worrying trend with Wenger - it seems it is he who gets nervous and bottles it before big games and it might be this that transmits to the players. His quotes might just be another example of this. We've already seen a few examples with his team selections, tactics, and failure to act when its not going so well.

 

From my point of view this is wenger's last summer and last year. No signings will mean no progress. In this case it will be time for wenger to leave at the end of the year. I think he might walk in this case anyway

 

Wenger always has something to say. Why doesn't he shut the hell up and concentrate on sorting out his bloody football team !

For a manager who isn't even in the top bloody 2 he seems to have a lot to say compared to every other manager.

 

Maybe someone asked him a question about this?

 

It was a mistake if our players lack professionalism. Otherwise the comment will have no effect.

As for the EL itself. If that is where we end up, then we will have failed miserably this season. I do NOT want to be playing on Spursday!!!

 

Because the idiot press interview him and ask idiot questions much more than they would dare do with Fergie perhaps?
I'm sure he was asked a question, and they probably just took what they wanted from his answer. e.g. 'Do you think the Europa League is worthwhile' (YES) might become 'Wenger would settle for Europa League'

remember these people are generally weasels.But in this instance its also telling that Jayram didn't mention this part of the quote "We want to be in the Champions League, we don't want to be in the Europa League. You play where you have to and it's better to play there than not at all." Has anyone replying actually read the article?

 

Post#3 tells you that we already assumed it was a media question.

What exactly is telling? I posted the link. Him saying that he wants to be in the CL is hardly new. We know that, it's his sudden appreciation of the EL on the eve of a do or die game for CL qualification that I find strange

Also, it is easy to reply to the question; Say, "I dont want to talk about the Europa League. We are 100% focused on winning against West Brom and qualifying for the CL".

There, easy.