Wenger vows: I will manage next season

Posted Saturday, February 18, 2017 by Foxsports.com

Arsene Wenger has assured both his fans and critics that he will continue to be a football manager next season, whether it is at Arsenal or somewhere else.

The long-running Gunners boss has come under serious fire after his side were beaten 5-1 by FC Bayern München in the Champions League on Wednesday, leading to intensifying calls for him to be replaced at the Emirates after more than 20 years in charge.

Wenger had to front up to the media on Friday to address one of the most turbulent weeks of his long managerial career.

The 67-year-old's contract expires at the end of this season and he is adamant it won't be his last.

"If I said March or April it is because I didn't know. I do not want to come back on that," said the Frenchman.

"At the moment we have other priorities and my future is not important, it's Arsenal Football Club, the future of our team and what we can achieve until the end of the season that is important.

"No matter what happens I will manage next season – here or somewhere else. That's absolutely for sure.

Wenger, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996, added: "We let everyone judge and criticise, we have to deal with that. We have to bounce back, that is what life is about.

"I am used to the criticism. I think in life it's important to do what you think is right and all the rest is judgement. I am in a public job and I have to accept that, but I have to behave with my values.

"Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every single game in the future. It is not like before I arrived Arsenal had won five times in the European Cup.

"What is important is that the club makes the right decision for the future. I care about this club and its future and it is very important the club is in safe hands.

"The main emotion is everyone has a big disappointment. We have to regroup and refocus on the next game, and to take care of the consequences a disappointing result can have on everyone's spirit.

"We have to focus on the real problems and they are the way we play football, not my future.

"It is always important not to look for wrong excuses in life."