SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER has rounded on the Arsenal fans who feel he has failed this season by accusing them of treating him like a murderer. "When you look now at people assessing the situations of the clubs, it has become ridiculous," Arsenal's manager said.

“You sit here, you are in the last four in Europe, and every day you feel you have killed someone. It is unbelievable. If you do not take a distance with it, you think: ‘What kind of world do we live in?’

“We lose against Man United who have 10 times more resources, it’s not a shame. They are the best in the world. Congratulations to them. If you play tennis tomorrow and you lose against (Rafael) Nadal, you can still say you are a good player.”

Wenger has grown increasingly weary of the negativity at the Emirates Stadium which, he stresses, is in stark contrast to the attitudes of the club’s travelling support. “There is a massive difference between the away fans, who are absolutely fantastic, and the home fans,” he said.

A section of the home crowd have booed Arsenal players at various junctures of the season – namely Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor – and Wenger wants not only greater support, but for them to see the bigger picture.

To his mind the “failure of the season” was the team’s inability to deliver a performance in the home leg of the Champions League semi-final against United, which they lost 3-1. But he believes their recovery from a dreadful start to the season – they lost five of 14 league games before going 21 without defeat in the competition – has been “amazing”.

“For me, it’s one of the best seasons for a long time considering where we were in November,” he added. “I believe as well we have to keep a little bit of common sense. Our average age in midfield is 22. Normally, you play not to go down in the Premier League with a team like that.”

Wenger appears certain to be chased by Real Madrid again this summer but when asked whether the supporters’ criticisms were trying his patience, he answered: “Frankly, I can take it with the needed distance. I look in the mirror and think ‘Have I given everything, have I done the maximum?’ and that’s it. I believe this club is in a fantastic situation. You look at the shape of the club, the financial situation, the quality of the squad. I’m pretty envious of this club if I’m on the outside.”

Looking to today’s match at Old Trafford Wenger feels Alex Ferguson’s “real hunger” for success will never die. Wenger’s once fiery relationship with his old adversary is now much more civil than when their two sides went directly head-to-head for the game’s top honours.

The Arsenal manager believes whenever the 67-year-old Scot finally does decide to call it a day – with the end of next season mooted as a possibility having originally announced his plan to retire in 2002 – he will remain a winner.

“I believe until the last day of your life, the real hunger never goes,” said Wenger, whose side have not won silverware since the 2005 FA Cup. “That is nothing to do with the number of trophies you have won or the amount of money you have made.

“You either want to win in life, or you do not want to win in life. It is as simple as that.

“It is only difficult to accept for people who do not have that drive.

“People who do have that drive, understand that the only thing which matters at the end of the day is how much you want to be successful.”

Meanwhile, Guus Hiddink has reassured his successor as Chelsea manager that he will not interfere in team affairs once he severs ties with the club at the end of this month, despite his close friendship with the team’s owner, Roman Abramovich, and has insisted he will return to Stamford Bridge only as “a tourist” in future.

The London club still hope to appoint Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti this summer despite the continued mixed messages issued by those at San Siro. Milan’s head coach yesterday dismissed suggestions he has compiled a list of potential signings at his new club as “grotesque” and described talk of a move to Stamford Bridge as “a big fantasy” despite having agreed in principle to become Chelsea’s fifth manager in 20 months after talks with the Premier League club.

A resolution is unlikely until after the weekend, with Milan attempting to qualify for the Champions League, which they will do if they win at Udinese this evening. Yet whoever is appointed in west London need not be disconcerted by Abramovich’s close relationship with Hiddink.

The oligarch has turned to the Dutchman for advice in the past and as his “firefighter” in February.

“I will visit every now and again,” said Hiddink. “But I’m not the kind of person to put a cloud on the club or the team.”

Hiddink’s last game at Stamford Bridge is against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.