THE END IS NIGH

Last updated : 21 January 2005 By Editor

This by Henry Winter in The Telegraph on why the so called 'end' to Fergie and Wenger's arguing did not happen yesterday.

Blessed are the peace-makers, for they are well intentioned, but for all the fine thoughts of Richard Scudamore, David Dein and David Gill, they are never, ever going to temper the competitive, oft-aggressive edge that makes Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger such lions of the managerial jungle. Truce? Only in public. Only for now.

Anyone naive enough to believe football's truculent twosome ended their feud yesterday, simply because three wise men requested them to, has no
appreciation of what makes Ferguson and Wenger tick. They will never be
friends. Wenger believes Ferguson orders his United toughs to kick Arsenal's
technicians. The Scot's enmity towards the Frenchman has been set in blood-
marbled stone ever since he misconstrued an observation from Wenger "that
every man thinks he has the prettiest wife at home".

So why should Ferguson and Wenger worry about yesterday's concord. These are strong individuals who constantly make huge decisions, ending youngsters' dreams, making big-money judgment calls on signings, picking teams, and motivating wealthy young men.

Theirs is an adversarial, emotional, high-stakes world and they survive and
prosper on deep self-belief and a fighting spirit.

Touchingly, the Premier League voiced their delight that Old Trafford and
Highbury "received assurances from their managers that public comments on
recent issues between them cease". Now that will make Ferguson chuckle.

The King of the Calculated Comment had already finished making "public
comments on recent issues". The master of the hit-and-run verbal assassination, Ferguson's mission had been accomplished with last Saturday's interview in which he systematically belittled Wenger and Arsenal. Ferguson has moved on. Chelsea are next up for the heat treatment.

The most sense spoken this week has come from Cdr Barry Norman of Islington police, who warned Ferguson and Wenger that their dispute could incite trouble among fans at Highbury on Feb 1. This is serious stuff. Even Ferguson and Wenger must acknowledge that. Norman's wisdom carried more weight than yesterday's Premier League decree.

Scudamore still deserves praise for tackling the spat, albeit with little hope of
long-term resolution. Blessed are the peace-makers, but they need to keep their body-armour handy. Ferguson v Wenger is a fixture in the calendar.