Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left amused when told that Premier League referee Mike Dean referred to him as the most intimidating manager he has ever faced.
Dean, who is never far away from the controversy on matchdays, recently announced that he intends to step down from his duties at the end of the 2021-22 season.
The 53-year-old endured some notable confrontations with Wenger during the Frenchman's time as Arsenal boss and in his exit interview claimed that he was the most intimidating manager he has crossed paths with in his 22 years at the top level.
Wenger was memorably sent off by Dean at Old Trafford in a defeat to Manchester United back in 2009 and was pictured in the stands with Red Devils fans gesturing behind him.
When told about Dean's claims by beIN Sports, Wenger responded: "Is someone behind me? Are you making jokes? I'm not very proud of that!
"He still doesn't know why [he sent me off at Old Trafford]. I didn't know where to go, nobody told me where I could go and when I arrived in the stand there was no free seat, so I had a double problem.
"First of all I didn't know why I was sent off and nobody could explain to me because they apologised after that, so I didn't know where to go!"
Wenger currently operates as FIFA's chief of global football development but has been linked with the sporting director's job at Paris Saint-Germain in recent months.
Ben Knapton
