Patrick Vieira admits that he would like to think that his coaching style is somewhere between Jose Mourinho’s and Arsene Wenger’s.
Vieira, who has been the manager of New York City FC since January last year, admits that while Wenger gives players the freedom to express themselves on the pitch, Mourinho ensures his teams are far more disciplined.
“Would I like my team to be more like a Jose or an Arsene team? I would like to be the balance of both,” the former midfielder told the Daily Mail.
“I would like my teams to have the discipline that Jose has but also allow players to express themselves into that discipline like Arsene.
“Arsene always gives freedom to his players. To have that freedom is good but if you can get them to respect the tactical aspect of the game it will be even better.
“When you talk about Jose who I had at Inter Milan, he was always focused on the details, giving players information that allows them to go on the field and respect the tactical game.
“Then you have Arsene who is always positive and always giving confidence to the players no matter what.
“Fabio Capello could be really tough on players. Roberto Mancini would work on tactical work for an hour and a half because the tactical game was important for him.
“So I take a little bit from everybody and try to use it with how I see the game and how I am as person as well.”
Several ex-Arsenal players have spoken about how Wenger doesn’t like confrontation and will often accommodate players in order to prevent it. In fact, Ian Wright revealed back in 2015 that the manager once told off Pat Rice for shouting at Arsenal players.
"Do not shout at the players" @IanWright0 recalls the day Wenger told off Pat Rice in the #AFC dressing room. #UCL http://t.co/kqppzZDV2r
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) September 16, 2015
Mourinho, as we’ve seen, does not shy away from getting stuck into his players. Sometimes this gets results and sometimes it doesn’t but the Portuguese manager’s success is undeniable.
The 54-year-old has won the Premier League three times, FA Cup once, the Champions League and the Europa League.
As Vieira says, striking a balance is probably the best approach to take and although that would be easier said than done, he’s off to a good start in the MLS, leading New York City FC to fourth place overall during his first season in charge.
At Arsenal, there appears to have been a power shift within the club, where players have too much power and Wenger is used as a scapegoat.
While the Frenchman is to blame for a number of the Gunners’ failings in recent years, he’s not the one who has to go out and perform every week, and when the majority of the players allow him to take the flack, it speaks volumes over how much of a handle he has on that dressing room, as well as how little respect these players actually have for him.