LONDON – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has come out in support of Muammar Gaddafi, insisting that talk of crisis in Libya was ‘premature’.
In a defiant press conference, the 61-year-old questioned whether the Libyan dictator was really under pressure, declaring the recent assault on the capital by a jubilant NATO backed revel army as a temporary problem that was still very salvageable.
The Arsenal man also indicated he was looking forward to wining silverware in the new Premier League campaign.
‘He can still save this’
NATO air strikes have been targeting Colonel Gaddafi’s forces for six months, but Wenger refused to admit things were as bad as they looked and could see no good reason reason for Gaddafi to quit his post.
He also advised Colonel Gaddafi to ignore the critics and continue his strategy of issuing rambling messages of defiance in spite of the reality surrounding him as “it has worked for the past 42 years so why change?”
When asked whether he thought the seizure of Gaddafi’s compound, the capture and defection of his former allies, and an international army hunting him down would have an effect on his ability to stay in power, Wenger was clear:
“Maybe, maybe not. We will have to wait and see. People tell me he is under pressure, but I don’t see it.”
‘Everything is fine’
Recent images have shown rebels sweeping into Tripoli during the weekend, and by Tuesday had overrun Colonel Gaddafi’s compound.
“I saw the television pictures of rebels looting the compound…but this does not mean all is lost,” said the Arsenal boss.
The Frenchman was confident that with a little more time, the Libyan dictator would be able to re-establish his previous dominance over the country:
“I don’t know what the big deal is,” said Wenger. “Gaddafi is close to turning a corner in Libya. This is very clear to me.”
Leave a Reply