Arsène Wenger believes the
'grieving process' of Champions League elimination could yet play a
part in the destiny of the Premiership title.
Manchester United and Chelsea have been jostling for position in a
two-horse race since the start of the season, and United have the
edge after coming from behind to beat Everton while Bolton drew at
Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea take a one-goal advantage to Anfield for the second leg of
their Champions League Semi-Final tonight while United defend a 3-2
lead against AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday. Speaking before
the weekend's games, Wenger argued that an adverse result in Europe
could have repercussions back home.
"I tell you something. The team that goes out of the Champions
League now whether its Man United or Chelsea or Liverpool they
will have a little dip because its like losing someone from your
family. You need time to recover from that," he said.
"The team who goes out will suffer in the championship. That is for
sure."
Wenger speaks from experience. Arsenal suffered a dip after PSV
Eindhoven knocked his team out of the Champions League in March
and, back in 2004, they needed a momentous effort from Thierry
Henry to stay on course for the title after stumbling against
Liverpool at Highbury.
"We went out to Chelsea in the Quarter-Final [of the Champions
League] and the game after we were wobbling in the first half like
a boxer, against Liverpool," reflected Wenger.
"Thierry Henry made something special in the second half and saved
us. If we had lost that game we could still have lost the league to
Chelsea."
