Is this being disrespectfull or being a 'bad loser'?

[Karl]

Wenger feels Chelsea experience cost Arsenal

By Soccernet staff


February 8, 2010

Arsene Wenger believes Chelsea's experience and efficiency meant they were able to prevent Arsenal playing on the weekend.

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Wenger feels Chelsea were more streetwise on Sunday

Didier Drogba scored two first-half goals to secure a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge that put Chelsea two points ahead of Manchester United and nine ahead of Arsenal.

Having lost 3-1 at home to United the previous week, Arsenal at least enjoyed an improved performance at Chelsea and had the majority of the possession, and Wenger was satisfied with his players on Sunday.
"I am completely happy with our performance and the spirit we have shown," he said. "For me, as much as we didn't turn up against Manchester United, at Chelsea we had the expected performance.

"We were still a bit uncertain at the start of the game, but when we went into it we were completely dominant."

Despite the positives, though, Arsenal were unable to score and Wenger feels Chelsea's tactics prevented his side from breaking through.

"We didn't get a demonstration of football, but they were efficient and, at the end of the day, that is what has made the difference," he said. "You have to give Chelsea credit. They defended very well.

"They are very experienced at the back. They make the foul at the right time when they are caught on the counter-attack, the little push with the shirt. It is not enough to get a yellow card.

"They have a lot of tricks of a very experienced team and they do that very well. They always had the guy who came back in the box and they didn't make silly mistakes."

Arsenal's next game comes against Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and Wenger feels the run of fixtures has already done significant damage to their title hopes.

"I feel that we are not in the best position, but we will not give up," he said. "We were a bit unfortunate as well to play Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool on the trot.

"If you lose one game it is very difficult with the psychological implications for the next game. I believe that is a little bit of a disadvantage."

[Karl]

Ballack hits back at Wenger

Ballack hits back at Wenger

By Soccernet staff

February 8, 2010

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has hit out at Arsene Wenger's criticism of the Premier League leaders, after the Arsenal boss accused the Blues of tactically fouling his players.

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Michael Ballack feels the team spirit at Chelsea is stronger than ever

Wenger's side lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but after the match he claimed "we didn't get a demonstration of football" from the home side - a comment that left Ballack unhappy.

"Wenger always says things like this when he loses to find an excuse," Ballack said. "We knew the way Arsenal play. It is always the same style.
"Football is not possession of the ball and playing a nice pass - football is about winning games. That is what Manchester United showed when they played them and what we did. We derived the win because we were very effective, and that was our strategy."

Germany captain Ballack now believes that the title race is a straight shoot-out between current champions Manchester United and his Chelsea side, with Arsenal not good enough to be considered viable contenders.
"If you look now, it seems like a race between Manchester United and us. But four weeks ago, you could see how it was [different] and it can go quick when teams lose points," Ballack said.

Chelsea face Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday looking to extend their two-point lead over United and nine-point lead over Arsenal, while the Gunners face Liverpool in a game they must win to reignite their title ambitions.