Arsenal Women interim coach Renee Slegers has confirmed that she will remain in the Interim Head Coach role until the November international break at least. Slegers took the interim role after the resignation of Jonas Eidevall a fortnight ago.
Our information was always that the market for a new coach would look more open in late November when certain domestic seasons across the globe finish and it is already reported that New York City FC Head Coach Nick Cushing is the club’s preferred target.
Speaking in her pre Manchester United press conference, Slegers confirmed, ‘I will be in the interim role for this block that is what I know, these five games (before the international break) I will be staying in the interim role.’
Pressed on whether she would be interested in applying for the role full-time, Slegers would not be drawn, ‘I definitely see myself doing it at the moment, I enjoy working with the girls, at the club and trying to get successes. I have done it before, I really enjoy the role but obviously when you do it a long time it becomes different but the work I can do for the team now, I really enjoy.
‘Compliments to the technical staff because when Jonas was here we built a really good staff, we have a psychologically safe environment where we are honest with each other, we work hard and help each other. But it is different for me from going more into individual details with players to having to have a more holistic view on things, there is more thinking.’
The team and the tactical approach did not veer too much from the blueprint adopted under Jonas Eidevall during her games in charge ahead of the October international break, both of which happened within a few days of Eidevall’s resignation.
Slegers has now had more thinking time with the international break. ‘We have some strong foundations from the last few years. There are some small tweaks and some things we want to work on that we have discussed with the players this morning.
‘But in general, we want to build on the foundations that is here and the players have been involved in identifying that foundation and who we want to be as Arsenal Women. We had a workshop about a year ago at our training camp (in Germany) and we still refer to it so it is still about the type of football the players want to play.’
Several Arsenal players went and scored for their countries during the break, with England captain Leah Williamson also admitting that a change in environment was welcome for her after an intense start to the season with Arsenal. Slegers agreed with the assessment and says she has spoken to Williamson about how she is feeling.
‘We are very happy for her, I spoke to her this morning. A lot of emotion came out in her celebration, mainly because it was her first goal back for England after her ACL injury. If you look at the whole squad during the international block, we had a lot of players assisting, scoring, having good performances. Over all it was a very good international window for Arsenal.
‘I had a good conversation with Leah this morning, when it is windy or stormy as it has been with us, it was a big event for us. In the Netherlands we say the high trees catch all the wind and Leah is probably one of them. She is fine, we had a good conversation and she trained really well.’
Slegers said a change of scenery will have done her players some good as they aim to shake off a slow start to the season after the team also played in an extensive UWCL qualifying format.
‘It has been a very big block, it was 13 weeks from pre-season into block one, it was a very long time together and I think everyone, myself included, it is nice to change environment, change pace, get new insights and meet new people, it is often good to get change, it is always inspiring and you learn new things.
‘It was good for everyone. Block one was eventful and long but if you look at how the players picked it up right before the international window and during the window, that is very positive and we need to keep that momentum now.’
‘When I was a player I always loved the international blocks, as a player you love representing your country and, at the same time, you are representing your club as well. Change of environment, new insights, new faces, new people, it can give positive injections.
‘The upcoming block is short, it’s 21 days and five games. The thing we did well before the break was being in the moment, affecting what we can control now and can we take ownership? We need to keep going with that mindset.’
COYGG
Pleased we are not rushing into a decision and Renee has at least another 5 games to illustrate her credentials. I do hope the end of November is not a target as that would suggest the choice has already been made with little consideration for anyone else. Another name I’ve not seen mentioned recently is Mary Phillip. I know she manages a lower league team but it is a men’s team and she was an Arsenal stalwart when we ruled Europe and a former England captain when Faye was unavailble. What a centre back pairing that was for club and… Read more »
BTW if you have not already seen it check out the U17 World Cup semi-final for some up and coming Arsenal talent on show. The 3-0 scoreline flattered Spain it was a much closer game than that and England were unlucky not to have scored at least 2. They might still get the bronze if they can dispatch USA at the weekend!