How Not to Negotiate in the Press 101
Arsene Wenger has been the manager of Arsenal Football Club since 1996. He has seen and heard almost every situation known to a footballing mind. But…man…you would think he would have figured out how not to completely erode his leverage in contract negotiations that are still ongoing.
Just read this:
What part of that is sound business strategy? “Hey, two best players by a country mile, don’t worry about it, we’re gonna re-sign you. But if we don’t, you’re definitely stuck here for the next 18 months, because I’m going to forgo getting any value out of your exit out of some misplaced sense of…well I’m not sure exactly what, but it’s misplaced. Great game against Stoke!”
Arsenal are playing very good football right now, and the match against Stoke even showed that the Gunners might have some of that mental fortitude they’ve been lacking for a decade. They didn’t collapse after going down a goal, they calmly finished chances, and salted the game away in the second half. Which is why I can’t fathom why my guy Arsene would even fix his mouth to say this nonsense. We can barely negotiate and sign players in a normal transfer window. Now you’re gonna tip your hand 18 months beforehand? Ok.
This is one of the growing criticisms of Wenger from the fanbase: he means well, but damn, this is dumb. His willingness to be open and honest with the media is endearing, but he tends to give up too much information. Like entire transfer policies. Or, my favorite, “Oh vee could haff signed (*insert French superstar here*) but ze quality of our current players meant we did not haff to make beeg changes to ze squad.” Just sign them, or don’t, but stop telling everyone our business.
All that being said…Sanchez and Özil will more than likely resign before the season ends and this will all have been for naught.
