The legendary rivalry between Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger from 1996 to 2005 provided English football with countless memorable moments, but one of the most famous incidents was their verbal spat during the 2001/02 season.
A historic jab from the French manager
In March 2002, Manchester United found themselves ten points behind Arsenal, yet Ferguson boldly claimed in the press that his side was playing the best football in England and was the strongest team in the country. Just before the Gunners clinched the title at Old Trafford, Wenger delivered a legendary response:
What do you want me to say? Everyone thinks they have the most beautiful wife at home.
This subtle yet biting comment quickly became a classic in the book of football banter. Over hundreds of miles away, the Scottish manager took this as a personal insult aimed at his wife, Cathy, igniting his fury.
The backstory of the great rivalry
Their conflict initially sparked in 1996 when a newly arrived Wenger questioned Ferguson's colossal influence on English football. At that time, the Manchester United boss sternly advised the Frenchman to “keep his mouth shut.” However, over time, Wenger adapted, responded with a double victory in 1998, and learned to deftly counter his opponent's jabs without unnecessary aggression, consistently gaining the upper hand in their verbal duels.
