Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has admitted that he has
the upmost respect for Arsene Wenger and that the Arsenal boss is a
"very nice guy."
Mourinho, who took over from Rafael Benitez at Stamford Bridge this summer, believes himself and Wenger to be friends and doubts whether any old feuds will reoccur when the pair go head-to-head this season.
Mourinho has recalled several meetings he has had with Wenger over the last few years, as he told the Portuguese media: "I started meeting him in UEFA, at the Euros (European Championships), the World Cup, we had dinner and so on.
"And when you are not in the same league and when you are not playing against each other, it is easier to know people, it is easier to go deeper. It is easy to speak about football, he's a very nice guy.
"I respect him a lot and I will show my respect always. (In) football sometimes even if you are friends and respect each other, you say something the other doesn't like and you react.
"But at the end of the day I respect him a lot and I have the feeling that he is the same in relation to me. I wouldn't bet on one single problem between us."
Mourinho and Wenger are not set for Premier League battle until December, when Chelsea travel to the Emirates stadium, with the return fixture, at Stamford Bridge, taking place in March of 2014.
Chelsea kick-off their Premier League season against new-boys Hull City at the Bridge, on August 18, which will represent Mourinho's first league game back at the Blues, and the start of his second era.
Meanwhile for Wenger, his Gunners side begin the 2013/14 Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa.
Mourinho, who took over from Rafael Benitez at Stamford Bridge this summer, believes himself and Wenger to be friends and doubts whether any old feuds will reoccur when the pair go head-to-head this season.
Mourinho has recalled several meetings he has had with Wenger over the last few years, as he told the Portuguese media: "I started meeting him in UEFA, at the Euros (European Championships), the World Cup, we had dinner and so on.
"And when you are not in the same league and when you are not playing against each other, it is easier to know people, it is easier to go deeper. It is easy to speak about football, he's a very nice guy.
"I respect him a lot and I will show my respect always. (In) football sometimes even if you are friends and respect each other, you say something the other doesn't like and you react.
"But at the end of the day I respect him a lot and I have the feeling that he is the same in relation to me. I wouldn't bet on one single problem between us."
Mourinho and Wenger are not set for Premier League battle until December, when Chelsea travel to the Emirates stadium, with the return fixture, at Stamford Bridge, taking place in March of 2014.
Chelsea kick-off their Premier League season against new-boys Hull City at the Bridge, on August 18, which will represent Mourinho's first league game back at the Blues, and the start of his second era.
Meanwhile for Wenger, his Gunners side begin the 2013/14 Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa.
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