The former England striker says Wenger questioned the British habit of having a beer after matches during flights home from away games.
“We’d sit at the back of the plane, have a couple of beers, go through the game,” Hateley told Football Presse. “It was social. It was bonding.”
One day, Wenger walked down the aisle.
“He said, ‘You English, you drink a lot.’”
Hateley fired straight back.
“I said, ‘Not really. We drink after a game because it’s social. It’s players talking, relaxing. It’s a couple of beers.’”
Then he pointed to the front of the plane — where several French players were smoking.
“There was a fog at the front,” Hateley laughed. “I said, ‘All you French boys at the front, you’re smoking and killing us all.’”
Wenger paused.
“You could see the sign drop,” Hateley said. “‘Yeah, you’re quite right.’”
It was a turning point.
From that moment, post-match drinks became part of Monaco’s culture — not excess, but unity.
And Hateley believes it helped build a title-winning team.