Amidst the tumultuous aftermath of Arsenal’s triumphant Champions League victory over Porto, Mikel Arteta finds himself embroiled in accusations of having “insulted” the familial honor of the opposing manager, Sergio Conceicao.
The tempestuous exchange of words unfolded in the wake of the penalty shoot-out, with Arteta’s squad emerging victorious 4-2 after the closely contested last 16 tie concluded at 1-1 on aggregate.
The animosity spilled beyond the confines of the pitch, permeating the post-match media conference, where Conceicao vociferously asserted that Arteta had employed derogatory language concerning his family.
In his indignant proclamation, Conceicao recounted, “During the game and directed at the bench… I’m unsure if this is emblematic of Spanish managerial conduct; nevertheless, he denigrated my familial ties. Subsequently, post-game, I made it explicit that the focus of his disparagements is beyond our purview. His energies should be devoted to honing the prowess of his squad, considering their ample individual capabilities for such endeavors.”
When Arteta was probed about the confrontation during his own press conference, he tersely retorted, “No comment.”
Contrary to Conceicao’s assertions, Arsenal officials later asserted that the Porto manager had misconstrued Arteta’s words, denying any disrespect towards his family.
This contentious relationship between the two managers, both receiving bookings during the match, is not novel; a prior clash occurred after the first leg of the tie in Portugal. Arteta had castigated Porto’s footballing style, decrying their adoption of a “low defensive block” and an apparent lack of “intention to play.” Conceicao promptly countered, asserting that such critiques were mere opinions, reiterating the dichotomy between their aspirations of playing and winning.
Conceicao, no stranger to managerial feuds, previously clashed with Pep Guardiola, accusing him of an “extremely unpleasant attitude” and employing “unsightly verbiage” regarding Portugal after a 2020 Champions League match against Manchester City.
Reflecting on Guardiola’s tactics, Conceicao commented, “I have much to glean from Pep Guardiola, particularly in his adept manipulation of referees, communication with opposing players, and engagement with the rival dugout.”
The disputes extended beyond Guardiola to involve Thomas Tuchel, then Chelsea manager, whom Conceicao accused of “insulting” him after a Champions League encounter in 2021.
The impending revelation of Arsenal’s quarter-final adversary looms as the draw is scheduled for Friday.