Arsene Wenger apologises to Mourinho for push during Arsenal’s defeat at Chelsea

Arsene Wenger has apologised for pushing Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge last weekend but argues that he was provoked.

The Arsenal manager confronted Mourinho in the first-half of his side’s 2-0 defeat as the two managers clashed in the aftermath of a challenge by Gary Cahill on Alexis Sanchez.

Mourinho retains his innocence in the incident and Wenger admits it was ‘not the way to behave.’

Wenger claims he was provoked by Mourinho when he entered Chelsea’s technical area to check on Sanchez and feels long-time rival provoked him.

“They gave too much importance to this story,” Wenger told Telefoot.

“In hindsight I think I should not have reacted at all, it’s not a way to behave on a football field.

“I always regret any signs of violence and I apologise, but that’s a part of games where everything is manic.

“And then we have quite a substantial past. Did Mourinho provoke me? That is how I felt. I did not enter Chelsea’s technical area.”