Renée Slegers says that Olivia Smith has learnt a ‘very tough lesson’ after she was sent off in Arsenal’s Subway Women’s League Cup semi final defeat on Wednesday.
Smith had been one of Arsenal’s brightest sparks but was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half. Arsenal went onto lose 1-0 to Manchester United thanks to a goal from Elisabeth Terland.
Renée Slegers spoke to the media after the defeat and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
Arsenal will ‘support’ Smith after red card says Slegers
Arsenal adapted well to being a player short, but could not get over the line with a leveller that would have forced extra time. The sending off was a contentious decision that will see Smith miss the WSL match against Chelsea on Saturday. Slegers was asked for her opinion on it,
“Yeah, I have to watch it back properly. I’ve seen one clip quickly” Slegers said.
“The first one but I’m not sure. I couldn’t see it clearly. It looked like Liv [Olivia Smith] was on the ball first, but I’m not sure.
“But then of course, if you are on the yellow you have to have that in the back of your mind when you when you play. Liv plays on the edge. She doesn’t shy away from physical moments, from duels.
“She draws a lot of fouls and cards for the opposition. Now it was the other way around, and that’s her style of play, and it was a really tough lesson for her today and for the team, because obviously we go down with 10 players, which makes it much harder if you’re one nil down.
“But then with 10 v 11, we still create a good amount of chances, which I’m very proud of. But of course, it’s a hard situation.”
Slegers was asked whether she had spoken with Smith following the match,
“Yeah, I just met her shortly after the game she’s very upset” Slegers admitted.
“She’s she’s not happy with it. She feels like she she let the team down, but we are in it together. It’s a very tough lesson for her but of course, we support her and help her [move] forward.”
Clinicality ‘the one piece missing at the moment’ says Renée Slegers
As with the 0-0 draw at the Emirates against United earlier this month, Arsenal had significantly more shots than United with 21 to 6 and with over 60 percent possession on the night. However once again Arsenal were unable to find the net. Slegers was asked if she was frustrated with how the match panned out,
“Yeah, it’s super frustrating” Slegers replied.
“The way we dominated the game, the way we progressed the ball, the way we stopped them from getting chances, the way we deal with the circumstances, until that moment, we do so well.
“So it’s again about, I think we entered their box and we have shots. That’s the one piece that’s missing at the moment, to be clinical and be calm and composed in and around the penalty box.
“So that’s what we’re working hard on and finding the right balance. But everything else we do so well. So it’s but it’s about scoring goals. So it’s, of course, very frustrating that we don’t get to win today.”
‘The fans did absolutely everything to help us’ says Renée Slegers
After full time Slegers could be seen walking around the pitch with her arms raised, apologising to the fans. Freddie Cardy from The Gooner asked Slegers about that,
“In this one definitely [I take responsibility], and I feel it deeply, because you see all those fans and we’re 10 v 11, and we are going at it, and it’s really hard, circumstances are hard, it’s raining [and] it’s still a sell out.
“Everyone just keeps going, keeps shouting, keeps screaming. So I thought the fans did absolutely everything to help us tonight. So I felt sorry for them.”
It’s about ‘getting the ball into the net’ says Slegers
The Halfway Line asked Slegers what was said to the Arsenal players after the match, what was Slegers message?
“There was two things” Slegers explained.
“There was moments in the game and that we did so many things so well, and that I was hurt because I felt that the players deserve more.
“It’s about one thing at the moment. It’s finishing, getting the ball into the net. And so that was basically the two things and the way we summarized it.”
