Post by Taxigirl on Nov 7, 2003 18:17:22 GMT
Arsene Wenger believes Tottenham were wrong to sack manager Glenn Hoddle during the season, although he has made it clear he has nothing against THFC caretaker boss David Pleat.
The Arsenal chief, speaking ahead of Saturday's North London derby at Highbury, feels that no club should dispense with the services of their manager during a campaign as those sort of decisions should only be taken during the summer break.
"It's the North London derby," Wenger told a press conference. "Of course we want to win our games and we want to keep it going in the league because we've come back with a good result from the Champions League.
"A derby is a derby. It's going to be very tight and emotionally very tense. We need to be up for the fight again because we need to dig deep again to find resources after a physical game on Wednesday.
"I was surprised at that (Hoddle's dismissal)," he added. "Pleat has the kind of experience to deal with this kind of situation. He has big experience and knows how to handle the players.
"It's too short to come to this kind of conclusion because results are judged on longer terms (in relation to THFC' upturn in fortunes since Hoddle's exit).
"Basically, I believe in stability within a club, technical stability.
"Look at the teams who change managers too many times. It doesn't work and, in the end, they finish with a lot of financial problems as it costs a lot of money.
"There's a study in Germany coming out, looking at over 50 years, and shows a change of managers helps in the short term but, on a longer basis, nothing changes.
"Basically, I am always against a change of manager within a season because where a manager can change things is after the season when he can bring in new players but the technical politics of Tottenham is not my problem.
"I just give you my point of view. I always feel sorry when a manager is sacked during a season.
"I don't want to take anything away from David Pleat but I feel you start the race and finish the race, and see if you have done well after the race."
The Frenchman discounted any suggestion that managers should not be allowed to leave clubs during the course of a Premiership season.
"I am convinced the freedom is there within a club to make the right decisions and you have to keep that going," he retorted.
"Sometimes you have no choice but to change the manager."
Wenger is not overly concerned with Sunday's massive games between Liverpool and Manchester United, and Chelsea versus Newcastle United.
"I don't care who scores in our game," he concluded. "What I care about is the team plays well.
"We just want to keep our momentum going and it is too early to look at anybody else.
"Our game is as tricky as Manchester United's or Chelsea's game."
