The real man behind soccer’s king of cool

ARSENE WENGER admits he goes home after a match and watches football on television until midnight.

In a remarkable insight into the man behind the cool image, Wenger revealed yesterday he has had to force himself to keep his feelings to himself.

"On Saturday nights I watch football from 8pm until midnight.

"Then I may watch a film because it is hard to sleep."

And on the seemingly calm exterior he presents to the world, the Arsenal chief said: "I have learned over the years to hide my feelings and deal with it. When I react it can be outrageous. I have always been aware of how much damage I can do if I lose my temper.

"That is why I have made a big effort to calm down and keep control.

"That is not very healthy because what goes on inside is sometimes terrible. But I have learned to hide it."

He added: "Sometimes during the season it can be more tense, and then you deal less well with the problems. I try to work on myself and to know when I drive to work whether I am in a good or bad mood. I decide to be careful because you can make a silly mistake that day. It is something you learn over the years to control."

Wenger also revealed why he would not sell Thierry Henry even for £50m (€71m). Gunners vice-chairman David Dein has said the Highbury club have rejected a £50m

(€71m) bid from Chelsea for Henry in the past few days.

"I would say no to £50m (€71m) for one of my stars. When you have the money and not the player anymore it does not help you.

"The target of a club is not a bank full of money, but a good team on the pitch. People can understand when you do not have the money to buy the best, but they can never understand when you sell your best players. That is a completely wrong signal to give to anyone, inside or outside the club."

And on Henry's rise to world fame, Wenger added: "Thierry is amazing. A dream you want as a player. He says 'Give me the ball and I can pass you because I have that acceleration to do that'.

"It must be an amazing feeling to be able to do that. Such power. He is intelligent and understands everything. Sometimes you say that God has not given you everything, but with Thierry he has been given a lot."

Wenger also revealed his feelings about Alex Ferguson and the mind games that are played between the two managers.

"You cannot say you like people you do not know that well. I respect him and maybe if I knew him better I could like him, I do not know.

"I could get to like him, why not? I do not have pre-conceived ideas about anything in life. I believe why not, we share the same passion, football and winning.

"Of course we could have a lot to talk about. But you are never in a situation to exchange views because you are always in a situation when you are very much concerned about a game."

He added: "When we meet there is even more pressure. There is always something at stake. But now there is a third team involved and it will make it even more interesting, maybe I will let them fight with each other!"

Asked how he reacted when Ferguson made disparaging remarks about Arsenal, Wenger said: "I take no notice of what Sir Alex says.

"It is all a bit of a game on both sides, you learn to focus on what is important. You learn that you can only influence the quality of your own team and you learn not to consider the negative influences coming from outside.

"It is a game. You know you want to perform well. But you can be influenced sometimes when the nerves are there towards the end of a season.

"We have good communications sometimes when you meet. But one of the problems of this job is that when you meet your opponent you are not always able to talk."

Wenger also claims that Arsenal may be his last major management job, and that running a huge club like Real Madrid brings a different pressure.

He said: "I feel a club like Real Madrid is a different job. At Arsenal, with a new stadium, I believe I can help this club become one of the top three or four clubs in the world.

"For me that would be fantastic. At Madrid I know that at the beginning of the season you have to win the championship and the European Cup. There is nothing else to do or they sack you.

"I will continue here as long as I feel I can be successful. A manager must push a club forward. I want a new training ground and stadium.

"We have a fantastic youth set-up with players coming through, I want to be part of pushing this club higher."