Despite winning against Claudio Ranieri in the Premier League on Saturday, Arsene Wenger claims that he’s still affected by his loss to the manager’s Chelsea team in the 2004 Champions League quarter-final.

However, the boss doesn’t harbour any ill will towards the former Chelsea manager over the loss, it’s actually the match against Manchester United three days prior which Wenger blames.

The game was physical and intense, and the effect it had on the players, Wenger believes, directly reflected on Arsenal’s performance in the quarter-final, which we lost 2-1.

“[The loss] is a regret,” Wenger said. “But the regret is more that we played Manchester United three days before at Villa Park and were kicked off the park that day.

“We were not at our best because we lost the game in the last 20 minutes. We were 1-0 up. It was Wayne Bridge who scored.

“You never forget the big defeats. It is a scar somewhere that remains forever.”

Chelsea's Wayne Bridge (R) fight for control of the ball with Arsenal's Edu (C) and Jose Reyes
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge (R) fight for control of the ball with Arsenal’s Edu (C) and Jose Reyes during their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match against Chelsea 06 April, 2004 at Highbury Stadium, London. Chelsea won 2-1. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Wenger has mentioned before how each defeat weights on his mind, even after so many years and that he remembers every one. The fact that he still regrets the circumstances surrounding the defeat to Chelsea shows just how much of a grudge he can harbour.

Hopefully there will be fewer and fewer defeats to weigh on the boss’s mind in future since our form appears to have improved lately.