Arsene Wenger has defended
Arsenal against criticism they are hurting England - but he admits
club football is now taking on greater significance compared to the
international stage.
Middlesbrough boss Steve Gibson rounded on the Barclays
Premiership's big clubs for failing to help England boss Steve
McClaren, but Frenchman Wenger insists it is more important to
maintain quality in the domestic game rather than protecting
homegrown talent. With the introduction of countries such as
Gibraltar to competitive football, Wenger believes the standard of
football on the international scene is diminishing, while the
opposite can be said for club football in the bigger nations.
"I don't think about the national team too much because
footballistically (sic) it's not of too much interest," said the
Gunners boss, ahead of his side's clash against Wigan on Sunday. "I
think the game has moved on and towards the club. It's more
exciting to watch club football and that is the same in other
countries.
"National football is boring, you have to accept that. Club
football has moved forward and international football has moved
backwards, because of the multiplicity of countries. Games are
boring because of that." He added: "Without that national pride,
and if you watch the level, most of the games at international
level are of no interest at all. "There is a lot of love for the
country, which is why people are interested, but no-one is
interested because of the level of football."
The Frenchman did not rule out eventually managing an international
side, despite much of his work at Arsenal having been done by
recruiting from a host of countries rather than just one. Wenger
has bought Theo Walcott from Southampton and developed Justin
Hoyte, but he has a reputation of unearthing foreign talent such as
Cesc Fabregas from Spain. It has led to inevitable criticism of his
policy being detrimental to England's hopes, something Gibson
hinted at.
However, Wenger said: "If I give you a good wine, you will see how
it tastes and after you ask where it comes from." Wenger defended
the club's policy, questioning the coaching of youngsters in
England. "We invest a lot of money in the academy and the
development of our youth team - true that is not necessarily for
English kids. But it is down to quality," he said. "To put players
in my team who are not good enough will not strengthen the England
team, and would weaken the Arsenal team. Just to please Steve
Gibson, that is not enough."
Wenger believes the most important time in a player's development
is between the ages of six and 13, adding: "That is when the
biggest part of the player is done. That is why I'm convinced it is
the development of the coaches that makes the difference. "It's not
where they finish, it's where they started. The lack of quality
coaches for the young ages is not something Arsenal can do
something about."
He added: "Quotas will not improve the national team and it will
weaken the football level - for people who love football that is
annoying. We live in a world where it is not down to protection, it
is about quality. "It's a vicious circle because the expectation is
so high and you go to the World Cup expecting to win."
