Wenger to hold Bayern talks this week

Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has shut down reports Bayern Munich are no longer considering him as their next manager, insisting he will hold talks with the club next week.

Earlier this week, Bild in Germany claimed Wenger approached Bayern to let them know he would be interested in taking over the position made vacant by Niko Kovac's sacking following the 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge reportedly told the Strasbourg-born coach they will not consider him for the post. 

However, Wenger has dismissed the reports, adding that he and Rummenigge agreed to discuss the possibility of the Frenchman managing Bayern next week.

It’s nice to let me explain the story because it’s a surprising story. First of all, I don’t have any agent, I am the only one involved in this story – nobody can talk on my behalf, Wenger told BeIN Sports.

Secondly, I have known [Franz] Beckenbauer, [Karl-Heinz] Rummenigge and [Uli] Hoeness for 40 years. The success of this club has been built on its exceptional competency, honesty, discretion and simplicity.

We always told the truth between all of us when it was necessary. What happened? My name came out of nowhere, without having anything to do with this.

On Wednesday afternoon Rummenigge called me, I could not answer at that moment and by politeness I called him back.

He was in his car going to the game against Olympiacos. We talked for four to five minutes maximum and he told me they had assigned Hans-Dieter Flick to be the coach, he will manage the next two games because they play Dortmund tomorrow [Saturday].

I would never refuse to talk to Bayern. He asked me if I would be interested because they are looking for a coach. I told him I didn’t have any thoughts about it, it needs some time to have a think about it.

We decided together we would talk next week because I am in Doha until Sunday night. This is the true story.

I wish well to Bayern which is actually at a turning point, because Hoeness – a key man at this club – is leaving. Rummenigge will leave in one year, it seems that the future is uncertain.

And this club, which has always managed stuff by being very discreet and direct, is today very exposed with rumours coming from everywhere.

For myself, I wish good luck to Bayern, and for me, the situation is clear.

View from Germany

Good luck means goodbye, says Thomas Janz, Chief Editor Digital Eurosport Germany

Wenger is a gentleman, and the “I wish Bayern good luck” comment at the end is his polite way of saying he no longer wants to hold talks about becoming the club's next manager. 

Bild were reliably informed by Bayern on Thursday that they would not be considering the former Arsenal boss, and this interview clearly shows Wenger’s own frustrations with how the club handled the situation. 

This was not the “discreet” Bayern he refers to, but one he fears may further lose their identity when Hoeness and then Rummenigge depart. 

Wenger therefore has reservations about joining the German champions, and while there may yet be talks next week, it could simply be to seek an apology from Rummenigge.