SIR ALEX FERGUSON only ended his bitter feud with Arsene Wenger when Arsenal stop challenging Manchester United and “fell of off the face of a cliff”.
That is the opinion of Andrew Cole who played up front for the Old Trafford legend.
The Gunners last won the league in 2004 and Fergie guided United to six Premier League titles after that undefeated season, before retiring with the crown in 2013.
The grudge between the veteran pair has dramatically thawed since but Cole told talkSPORT it was only because Wenger stopped
In conversation with David Seaman on the Re:United series, Cole pinpointed the moment relations relaxed: “Only when Arsenal stopped being a threat to Manchester United.
“That’s when the managers mellowed, for whatever reason Arsenal just fell off of a cliff from being challengers every season to suddenly fading away and not even challenging any more.
latest manchester united news
“They were not a threat to him or his football club anymore so he did not have to have any grievances or beef anymore. They were not hurting him.
“I think the respect between them now is phenomenal but only because Arsenal were no longer a threat.”
The former Gunners goalkeeper revealed Wenger refused to talk about Ferguson – or any other Prem boss – but Seaman knew they would rather be at each other’s throats rather than the bar.
latest arsenal news
Seamen said: “With Arsene you never really knew because he would never speak about other managers to his players.
“I don’t know if he did with his other coaches or staff.
“With Arsene you just never knew what his feelings were with other managers, it was strange.
“I think there was a mutual respect but, would they have gone for a drink together? I am not so sure.”
David Seaman and Andy Cole remember intense rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal on talkSPORT’s Re:United series