New York City FC manager Patrick Vieira downplayed rumors of him becoming Arsene Wegner’s replacement at Arsenal, telling reporters Monday during the club’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new training facility in Orangeburg, N.Y. that no one at the North London club has yet to reach out.
“I’m sure [the press] will know before I do,” Vieira quipped, according to ESPN.com.
Vieira, who is in the last year of his contract with NYCFC, reiterated being linked to a club he captained during his nine years under Wegner, is an honor.
“Of course, because you're talking about Arsenal Football Club, and it's a big football club, it's an honor, but I have never been in touch,” he said.
Vieira said he visited with Wegner last December following a 3-3 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates and found it difficult to see his former manager go through such a difficult period because “I know how committed he is to this football club.”
But there were lessons Vieira said he took from that meeting that has helped him in his burgeoning managerial career.
“You know that you will have a [tough] time during the season, where one day you are the best coach and the next day you will be the worst," said Vieira.
"It's all about, I believe, how you can be consistent in yourself, in how you have to be consistent with the media, with the fans, with your players. I think it's not about having this rollercoaster where when you are doing well you are [up] there and when you are down ... no, it's about being consistent.
"That is something I take with the meeting when I saw [Wenger] last time."
