Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dismissed claims by Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho that Barcelona have received favourable treatment from referees
Mourinho went on the attack on Wednesday night after his side lost 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Barca, with his comments leading to Barcelona on Thursday holding a board meeting to consider taking action following an ill-tempered El Clasico clash at the Bernabeu.
The former Chelsea manager had implied that the Catalan giants receive favourable treatment from referees and UEFA and were yet to win a "clean" European title under Pep Guardiola.
The 'Special One' used the sending off of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in the Gunners' defeat to Barca earlier in this year's competition as an example.
But Wenger, who received a one-match ban from UEFA for hitting out at Swiss referee Massimo Busacca who sent off Van Persie for kicking the ball away at Camp Nou, says he refuses to believe Mourinho's claims.
"It's difficult for me to comment on that [Mourinho's claims] because we were involved in a situation like that," he said.
"I refuse to believe that because the day I believe that, it is impossible to manage.
"This season, they [Barcelona] certainly had some advantages. I feel that they were accidental."
He added: "When a manager comes out of a big game like that, and you have a disappointment, you have to accept that you can sometimes that you go a bit too far, but I refuse to believe that there is, let's say, a script behind the stage and that Barcelona is advantaged.
"I feel that they over-react, certainly, but they play certainly the best football at the moment in Europe and you have to give them credit for that."ew blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
Mourinho went on the attack on Wednesday night after his side lost 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Barca, with his comments leading to Barcelona on Thursday holding a board meeting to consider taking action following an ill-tempered El Clasico clash at the Bernabeu.
The former Chelsea manager had implied that the Catalan giants receive favourable treatment from referees and UEFA and were yet to win a "clean" European title under Pep Guardiola.
The 'Special One' used the sending off of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in the Gunners' defeat to Barca earlier in this year's competition as an example.
But Wenger, who received a one-match ban from UEFA for hitting out at Swiss referee Massimo Busacca who sent off Van Persie for kicking the ball away at Camp Nou, says he refuses to believe Mourinho's claims.
"It's difficult for me to comment on that [Mourinho's claims] because we were involved in a situation like that," he said.
"I refuse to believe that because the day I believe that, it is impossible to manage.
"This season, they [Barcelona] certainly had some advantages. I feel that they were accidental."
He added: "When a manager comes out of a big game like that, and you have a disappointment, you have to accept that you can sometimes that you go a bit too far, but I refuse to believe that there is, let's say, a script behind the stage and that Barcelona is advantaged.
"I feel that they over-react, certainly, but they play certainly the best football at the moment in Europe and you have to give them credit for that."ew blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.