Renée Slegers has praised her Arsenal charges who are ‘stepping up’ as a successful block nears its conclusion.
On the night, Arsenal had beaten OH Leuven 3-1 [7-1 on aggregate] to advance to the quarter finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. An Alessia Russo brace eventually separated the sides, with Mariona Caldentey also on target for the Gunners.
Slegers spoke to the media after the victory and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
‘The first half was hard for us’ candid Slegers admits
It was not always smooth sailing for Renée Slegers’ side on Wednesday night. Both an improved performance from the visitors and terrible weather played their part. And yet Arsenal got the job done, Slegers reflected on the night and the tie as a whole,
“Yeah, so we have really good performance away against Leuven, which puts us in a really good position” Slegers explained.
“[We have] the game against Brighton postponed, and then facing Leuven again with no game in between. Circumstances were really hard with the rain, with the wind across the pitch but of course, that’s the same for both teams.
“I think first half was hard for us. I think they were really compact between the lines. They did it a little bit differently, creating a back five more often, so we couldn’t find the same spaces. I think they did that well.
“I think we concede the corner and another big chance in the first half, but then I think we have better control in the second half, even though it was hard sometimes to control the game because of the circumstances.
“But we did that and we scored some good goals tonight. I’m happy for Alessia [Russo] as well. She scored her 50th [goal] for Arsenal today, so really happy.”
Renée Slegers delights in Arsenal players that can ‘perform’ in ‘different roles’
Arsenal have now won six matches in a row and that run has included plenty of rotation, which has delighted Slegers. The Dutch head coach spoke about the versatility and strength of her squad at the moment,
“We have so many players in good form at the moment” Slegers beamed.
“So many players that can perform for us in certain roles, different roles, as well. I think one example is Vic Pelova plays the six role at the start of the game, and then she finished the game on the right wing position, which she picked up really well.
“A lot of players playing roles for the team and they do that really well, and then the whole the sum of its parts becomes really good. I think that’s the big standout for me so far in the book.”
A test of both the squad depth and versatility of players will be the Asia Cup. Yesterday Australia announced their Asia Cup squad, which includes three Arsenal players. Slegers was asked about the squad with that absence on the ever closer horizon,
“So let’s see how many games they’ll miss eh. Well, we have Taylor Hines back, which is really positive” Slegers said.
“Stina [Blackstenius] is progressing really well, she might be back before the block [post international break]. We hope that Beth Mead can make her return as well. So then that’s all really positive.
“So yes, those three players will go away. If you look at how the squads performing at the moment, and how players are stepping up, and how we do things together within walls, that’s been really positive. So I go with a lot of learning and confidence into the next block of games.”
‘This fan base, they’re always there for us’ praises Slegers
Slegers saved special praise for the Arsenal support, who braved the elements to support their side on Wednesday night. The Arsenal head coach was asked to speak about the support on the night,
“Yeah, the fans were amazing” Slegers smiled.
“And I think I knew before the game it was 2,600 tickets sold today. In the morning it was fine, there was no rain. It’s like, okay, looking forward to [seeing] the fans.
“Probably they’re at work or studying, or whatever they do, and then they come to the game tonight. Will be great, eight o’clock? But then the rain starts to fall.
“So then you start thinking, are they still gonna come, all of them? And yes! They all showed up! And they were just singing and getting the team through it.
“We said afterwards it’s always a privilege to represent Arsenal and that’s the big part of it, is the fans that we have this fan base, and they’re always there for us. So, yeah, it’s a special moment. Even in these circumstances and conditions.”
