Diarra: I learnt nothing from Wenger
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Former Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra has delivered a withering assessment of Arsene Wenger’s managerial qualities, claiming he learnt nothing from working under his fellow Frenchman and that the Arsenal boss hardly spoke to him during his five-month stay in North London.
Diarra may have carved out a key role at Real Madrid following his £20 million January move from Portsmouth but he clearly still harbours resentment at the way his Arsenal career came to such a premature end.
The France international joined The Gunners in a shock transfer from Chelsea in August 2007 but made only four Premier League starts before departing to join Portsmouth, where he won the FA Cup during a happy time working under Harry Redknapp.
Such was his anonymity at Emirates Stadium, the midfielder admits he has almost forgotten his time at Arsenal, even if some aspects of Wenger’s guidance remain imprinted on his memory.
When asked by El Pais if he learnt anything from the Arsenal boss, Diarra replied: “Me? Nothing. I did not learn anything from Wenger. Pfff... I was just taught to doubt everything.
“I played 15 games, the relationship I had with him was not good.
“You cannot understand why. I respect the way he trains but I learnt more with [Jose] Mourinho.
“Mourinho taught me to fight. I spoke looking into his eyes. If you had a problem, you discussed it.
“Wenger never addressed me until I told him I was going. He talked to others but not me.
“I feel like I never played for Arsenal. If I do not think about it, I forget. I have cleared it from my head.”