Winterburn: Wenger and Mourinho respect each other despite differences

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho are two "huge" managers who have respect for each other despite their differences, says former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn.

The two managers have been involved in controversial moments in the past - particularly during Mourinho's time at Chelsea - and Wenger takes Arsenal to Old Trafford for the final time as manager on Sunday, when the Gunners travel to play Manchester United, live on Sky Sports.

Wenger has announced he is leaving Arsenal at the end of the season, and asked how Mourinho would be feeling before his final match against his old rival, Winterburn said: "He's Manchester United manager, so he's going to be motivated.

"He also knows the history of Manchester United and Arsenal. For him, he'll probably just say: 'It's another three points', but these are two huge managers.

"They've had their differences, but the one thing they do have for each other, I think, is respect."

Winterburn's belief that the two managers have a mutual respect is backed up by Mourinho himself, who recently said of Wenger: "If he respects me even 50 per cent of what I respect him we can even be friends in the future.

"I have lots of respect for him. I tried to show that in the past couple of years there were no more problems at a different stage of my career with a different profile.

"I feel sorry that after Sir Alex Ferguson - but it was obviously Sir Alex's decision [to leave] - the next big one, the next iconic one is leaving the Premier League."

However, Mourinho has not always so positive in his opinions of the Arsenal manager - he is on record as previously calling Wenger a "voyeur" and "a specialist in failure".

Credit: Skysports.com