Lyon boss defends ‘top class’ Wenger ahead of Spurs clash

Remi Garde, Lyon head coach. Photo: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
5:02 PM

Arsene Wenger today received a vote of confidence from the man who hopes to bring down Arsenal’s biggest rivals tomorrow - Lyon manager Remi Garde.

Arsenal’s hopes of ending their eight-year trophy drought this season are all but over after they lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League second round match last night.

The Gunners sit fifth in the Premier League and are out of the FA Cup and League Cup after defeats to Blackburn and Bradford respectively.

Some Arsenal fans believe it is time Wenger moved on but Lyon boss Garde - the first man the Gunners boss signed for the club in 1996 - thinks his compatriot is not being judged fairly.

Garde only made 43 appearances under Wenger after moving from Strasbourg, but he still holds the Gunners boss in high regard.

“I think that Arsene Wenger is still a top-class manager,” Garde said ahead of Lyon’s Europa League second round second leg clash against Tottenham at the Stade de Gerland.

“He has spent so many years at this club, he has brought so much to this club.

“I can testify because I used to be one of his players. He brought so much to the club, even if he didn’t win so many trophies.

“I think he deserves more respect than what he is getting at the moment. Of course we know football is a business that is judged on results, but I think he deserves more respect and he is still a world-class manager.”