Arsene Wenger in Premier League U-turn with ex-Arsenal boss now open to managing rival of the Gunners
ARSENE WENGER says he is still not ready to return to management.
The Frenchman has been out of work since leaving Arsenal last summer.
Wenger had been linked with a string of high-profile jobs, including the vacancy at Newcastle before it was given to Steve Bruce.
But he insists he is enjoying his break from football - even though he would be happy to work in the Premier League again one day.
Asked if he was close to a return, Wenger, 69, said last month: “Not in the near future, no.
“I’m still not ready to go back.
“I thought yes, but I don’t think at the moment I will come back.
“I’m more open now than a year ago to talk about that.
“But I cannot tell you that in the next two or three days I will go into management again.
“I took a little bit of distance and I enjoyed it.
“I worked for 35 years without any interruptions, so I think I deserved a little rest.”
Wenger has previously suggested it would be difficult to work in England again because of his 22-year association with Arsenal.
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Yet he added: “Well I would prefer to try another country, although my preferred time was in England because the Premier League is the place to be at the moment.
“For me, it is very difficult because I was for so long at the same club.
“But why not? I still need a bit of time to pass and then maybe make the decision.”