Near the hotel where the press conference was planned, a Moscow fan of the Gunners stood alone. Despite the cold, he was wearing only a light jacket, and underneath was an Arsenal T-shirt. In the hands of a guy holding a bag in which flowers froze. The fan looked unimportant.
“I want to give the bouquet to Wenger,” he said, barely moving his lips. - I support this club.
Security for no reason did not let the fan inside the building. And in the end, he did not seem to stand it. Moreover, the representatives of Arsenal were very late. As a result, Arsene Wenger appeared in the hall without flowers. He did not know how much he was loved in this cold country, where the Londoners had not yet managed to win.
Together with the coach was Alexander Gleb. The Belarusian legionary club’s press service has strictly forbidden to answer questions in Russian, saying that, playing for an English club, thoughts should be expressed in English. Gleb nodded, smiled, and for some reason blushed.
“I am very glad to come to Moscow,” he said immediately in pure Russian (the spokesman only shook his head in disappointment). “I have many relatives here.” And in general, I was very happy when I found out that we were in the same group with the Russian team.
At that moment, the telephone vibrated in Alexander’s pocket, and he was embarrassed more than ever. Cautiously, looking with dismay at Wenger, Gleb turned off his mobile phone without taking it out of his pocket. The press officer had already frowned openly.
Gleb said nothing more, focusing on coloring a piece of paper. And Wenger was very happy when he was reminded that Arsenal had never won in Moscow and both visits to the capital of Russia ended in failure for him.
“Everything once happens for the first time,” the coach even winked at the reporter. - We generally have a high percentage of victories on the road. And I hope that in the match with CSKA we will improve it.
Despite such a risky statement, the coach takes seriously tomorrow's opponent:
“The army team is well organized,” Wenger went on without a shadow of a smile (although now she had the time — A.Sh.). - It combines Russian athleticism and a Brazilian attack. I know that the club has a very strong South American influence.
A certain extremely active English journalist (the first fifteen minutes he generally talked to Wenger alone, in dialogue mode) tried to continue to replenish his knowledge of CSKA.
“I agree that the army team are our competitors in the struggle for first place in the group,” the French specialist noted. - They did not suffer a single defeat in the tournament. And we did not lose points at all. I think leaders meet on Tuesday.
There was a catch. If the game is so important, then why does the team arrive in Moscow only 24 hours before the match, and even refuse to train on an unusual field? But it’s important not only to check the lawn, but also to understand what to wear for players on a cold evening.
“We did not want to spoil the field,” Wenger joked. - In general, we have long been practicing arrival a day before the game. And the training was held in London. There is no news in the team, everyone is healthy, no one left after the match in the championship of England.
Finally, the restless British reporter decided to inquire about Wenger's opinion of Frank Ribery from Marseille. Do you intend to buy it? And if so, when?
“We're not going to buy anyone,” Wenger shrugged. - We did not even make an official offer to Ribery. Our staff is fully equipped.
Probably, after these words, the players of CSKA, if they see the television news about the press conference, should be scared. And Ribery is upset.
Alexey Shevchenko