Arsenal were 1-0 winners over Liverpool in the WSL on Merseyside on Sunday afternoon thanks to a first half goal from Alessia Russo. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
On her overall thoughts on a game that felt like three games in one…
That is a funny wrap up! So many things happened in the game. Our press was fine in the first half, in that phase of the game we were fine, we were on it and switched on and did well. On the ball I didn’t recognise us. We are usually consistently good on the ball with our details, our passing and positioning. With the detail of the pass was not right and then you get into problematic situations and they compound and that’s when the game goes to a game Liverpool likes and a game we don’t want to play. I agree, there were so many things to the game but we get the three points. We are critical as a team, I spoke to the girls, we are critical of things we want to do better but we are very aware that the three points was most important today.
On whether playing without Walti and Little has cost them some control in the last two games…
Kyra and Mariona have played there for two games, against Villa and Valarenga, we get the game we want and we dominate and then you get so much out of Kyra and Mariona with their qualities. Today, because we don’t get the details right, the game becomes scrappy and duelling and transitional. All players are different but Kim Little and Lia Walti are more conservative most of the time and Kyra and Mariona are more brave and go forward and all four are very important and we just have to put the puzzle together for what kind of qualities we need. At the same time, all four of those players can play all the roles we want them to because they are so versatile and have so many qualities if that answers your question a little.
On winning the game off the back of a short turnaround after an away game in Oslo…
It is hard, we got so many signs during the weekend on the men’s and women’s side in different competitions of teams losing points. Somehow it was good we got those signs and we play a little later in the weekend so we can be very aware of it. We have been messaging that with the girls as well. It is hard because the WSL is a tough competition, every game is hard to win, especially when you play with a quick turnaround. Liverpool away is always going to be a hard game with the style of play, the travel and the context. Coming away from Norway and doing really well but it’s -8 on an artificial pitch and we fly back the same evening, coming back 2 or 3 in the morning. The girls have one day to recharge and then we return and prep for Liverpool. With the whole context I am very pleased with the three points today.
On Russo scoring in five consecutive WSL games…
She is doing really, really well, she gets at the end of it but also does a lot of hard work in other phases of the game out and in possession. Very pleased with her, she works really hard but credit to the rest of the team for setting up situations where Alessia can get on the end of things and bring her to her strengths. We do it together as a team.
On Matt Beard saying she should get the full-time job and the Arsenal fans singing her name…
I am happy for how the team is performing, we are winning other than the one draw against United. The fans mean the world because as a team we came from a difficult time and they kept on backing us. They have been an important part of where we are. I am very happy for the fans, I am happy for the team and happy to work with the club. Otherwise, there is only two days and then we play Bayern, I am still in the middle of everything, so we are not done yet. My mind is on Bayern.
On enjoying weeks with short turnarounds and relishing them…
Definitely, we described the games in this block as different challenges. Norway was a challenge and this was a challenge in itself. I am very happy with how the team finds ways to win and finds ways to overcome those challenges, that has been positive.
On whether Chelsea and City dropping points ahead of this game impacted preparation…
No it didn’t impact the preparation, not from a tactical perspective or how we schedule things or how we set things up. We saw Chelsea got the 1-1, I didn’t know the City result coming into the game, I knew the half-time score. There were signs we need to be on it, you see with these schedules with a lot of games and champions League so it is an easy slip to make. It was a signal that we need to be on it and that is what we, for the most part, over the 90 minutes achieved because we get the three points.
On whether she has enjoyed the feel good factor at Arsenal…
It is all professional, from game to game there is so much work in the background we need to do. The most important is that the players enjoy what we are doing. The players put in a lot of work, on and off the pitch and that is what we wanted to achieve with the team.
On being at Arsenal…
I played for Arsenal academy when I was 17 and Arsenal has always been very special to me. I went to the training ground I got to meet Vic (Akers) and Robin van Persie and it was the first big club I visited, it is a special club and I am very proud to work for Arsenal. I was very proud in my other role, I am just happy I can contribute to the club and be part of it and work with these top players because it is really top players we have the privilege to work with.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox, 6.Williamson(c), 7.Catley, 11.McCabe; 32.Cooney-Cross; 8.Mariona (3.Wubben-Moy 90+2) 9.Mead (25.Blackstenius ‘58), 12.L.Maanum (10.Little ‘57), 19.Foord (17.Hurtig ‘76); 23.Russo
Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 5.L.Codina, 16.Kafaji, 22.Kuhl, 26.Wienroither.
