Arsene Wenger is convinced mind games between rival managers have limited impact on what teams do on the pitch. The Frenchman said: "You want respect in the game, and we managers are responsible for it. I do not want to interfere in that more because I do not know what happened (between Ferguson and Benitez).

"I believe it (mind games) was always something which was overrated a bit.

"But it is part of our environment and part of the media.

"You never know how much impact it has because it is impossible to measure.

"It is a little bit like advertising - it is needed but what impact it has on sales you never know. With mind games it's the same."

Wenger added: "I believe that it can sometimes have a negative impact rather than a positive impact.

"There is a rivalry there and I do not give too much importance to it."