Arsene Wenger has major plans for the future of the offside law – and old rival Jose Mourinho is not among those backing him. The former Chelsea boss, who has had a whole host of fiery run-ins with the Arsenal legend, joked he was keen to avoid meeting on TNT Sports’ live coverage from Wembley. He was on analysis duty as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final.
Jose Mourinho joked he was keen to avoid a meeting with Arsene Wenger on TNT Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League final, seemingly over the former Arsenal boss’ proposed changes to the offside law.
The ‘Special One’ joined a touchline panel of Rio Ferdinand and Steve McManaman, anchored by Laura Woods, as Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Wenger has been advocating for a major change to the way offside is determined over the last four years, as debate around marginal calls has only intensified in the VAR era.
Instead of the current requirement – for any part of the attacker’s body with which they can score to be behind the last defender – Wenger instead wants to see ‘daylight’.
Wenger said of the idea, which would need a visible gap between the defender and attacker for an offence to occur, back in 2020: “There is room to change the rule and not say that a part of a player’s nose is offside, so you are offside because you can score with that.”
In his role as FIFA’s global chief of football development, Wenger is now attempting to push through the alteration via trials in Sweden.
His old rival is not convinced, however. At the prospect of the Frenchman joining the TNT Sports pundits, Ferdinand said: “I’d have to stand in between him and Jose…”
Mourinho interjected: “Ask him what he wants to do about offside… oh my god. Oh my god. Let me go before, please.”
As Woods suggested it would be “great” to reel Wenger in, the Portuguese replied: “No, it’s time for me to go.”
The pair were embroiled in a bitter rivalry during both of Mourinho’s spells in charge of Chelsea – the first of which saw him wrestle the title from Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/04.
Ashley Cole’s controversial transfer across the capital from Arsenal – one which saw both the player and Chelsea fined by the FA over an illegal meeting while he was still under contract with his boyhood club – ignited the feud further.
During Mourinho’s second stint in west London – after he had taken charge of Inter Milan and Real Madrid – the iconic duo were involved in a physical confrontation, as Wenger pushed the younger man on the Stamford Bridge touchline.
Premier League clubs have already voted in favour of introducing semi-automated offside next season, having seen its success in both the World Cup and Champions League. One example was seen in Saturday’s final, as Niclas Fullkrug’s late header was confirmed as offside within a matter of seconds.
If Wenger’s proposal does come to pass, Mourinho may well be in the Turkish Super Lig at the time. He heavily hinted on TNT Sports that Fenerbahce will be his next managerial destination, confirming the chairman was in his phone contacts and that he would take a flight to Istanbul on Monday.
Mourinho was watching one of his former clubs put on a sub-standard first-half performance as Dortmund squandered their chance to capitalise, before the Spanish champions upped the tempo after the break.
Dani Carvajal headed in the opener from a corner, before Vinicius Junior doubled the advantage after being played in by Jude Bellingham. Madrid became 15-time champions of Europe with the victory.