Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to his old foe Sir Alex Ferguson, saying he deserves to be named as the Premiership’s manager of the year.
Wenger said Steve Coppell also deserved mention for establishing Reading in the top flight following their promotion as Championship winners last season.
The Frenchman has fallen out with Ferguson on a number of occasions over the years but he was quick to lavish praise on the United manager for his work this season.
“I feel this year Sir Alex Ferguson, because he’s in a position to fight on every front,” Wenger said. “And Steve Coppell, who is in a position where nobody expected him to be and has a team who does not play negatively – they have a positive attitude everywhere they go.”
Wenger, meanwhile, admits that the season, although not without positives, has been a huge letdown.
“This year we had a massive disappointment, I feel overall, especially in going out of the Champions League the way we went out,” he said.
“But it’s part of a growing process as well to handle this kind of disappointment and to still not let your disappointment stop your progression.”
