Wenger slams media for twisting his words

The Arsenal boss, whose side face Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, was accused by Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack of making excuses in the wake of the loss.

However, the Frenchman tried to put the record straight yesterday, saying that reporters had misconstrued what he said at the post-match press conference.

Wenger said: "I would just like to say that I was full of compliments and praise for Chelsea after the game and I find it completely unfair from the press that you take one word of my press conference to turn it in a kind of probe every time."

He added: "You did that at Villa, you did that at Chelsea and every time. If you look at the intent of my press conference it was positive towards the opponent. If you want, we can have a press conference and I can say nothing, don't worry.

"As for (Ballack's comments), I am long enough in England to know that the team who wins can say what they want. They are right. It is my job to take a distance from that and analyse the game in a calm way with a cool head and to analyse what is right."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was also fielding questions about off-the-pitch matters yesterday, insisting that he knew little about rumours that new investors were set to bid for a stake in the club.

Representatives of Mukesh Ambani, who is the head of Reliance Industries and the wealthiest man in India and seventh-richest in the world, denied claims yesterday that he was interested in doing business with Liverpool's co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"We can see a lot of rumours in the press, but we have to concentrate on football," said Benitez. "Everyone knows we need a new stadium and investors if we want to go forward so it would be good for the club."