GUNNING FOR IT
I’m a former Arsenal star making my own way in management – I’m trying to copy what Arsene Wenger did with Gunners stars
He revealed the first thing Wenger said to him
JULIO BAPTISTA has revealed he is trying to copy Arsene Wenger after starting his own career in management.
The Brazilian spent a season playing under Wenger during a loan spell with Arsenal.
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Wenger signed Baptista on loan from Real Madrid in 2006, with the former midfielder scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in 35 appearances.
Now a coach, Baptista has reflected on his time in the Premier League and how his time under Wenger has impacted his approach to management.
He exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “"Playing in the Premier League was an incredible experience.
";I wish I was there for longer. I had just started to learn English and then I left.
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"Obviously, I played for one of the best clubs when I was there and I got to work with Arsene Wenger.
"Wenger for me is a superb, top manager. I learned a lot from him and he helped me a lot in improving my game and made me a stronger player.
"My first conversation with him, he spoke very very slowly and said it would be too hard to try and speak Spanish with me.
"He said you need to learn English and I will speak slow so you understand everything.
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"The first instruction he gave me was 'What position I would like to be in', and he believed I could do an incredible job for him. He improved me a lot as a player.
"He is a very nice person, and he is one manager who doesn’t act superior.
"He’s able to do his job and be a nice person at the same time. He was never intimidating; he was so close to the players.
"He is very kind and doesn’t make players feel pressure. He has an incredible mind.
"Now that I am a coach, I try to reproduce what Wenger did and how he acted towards the players. He got more out of the players than anyone."
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Baptista went on to have spells in Spain, Italy, Brazil, Romania and the USA before retiring in 2019 aged 37.
He soon moved into management, taking charge in Real Valladolid's youth and reserve sides.
However, the 42-year-old was sacked by former team-mate Ronaldo back in November and is yet to return to the dugout.
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