‘I have big trust in the club’ Slegers relaxed around ongoing manager recruitment process at Arsenal Women

Arsenal Women’s Interim Manager Renee Slegers says she is relaxed about Arsenal’s ongoing search to make a permanent appointment following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall in October. Slegers has won nine and drawn one of her 10 games in interim charge, leading to fans and pundits championing her for the job.

As reported in the 23 December episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, our understanding was that the shortlist for the position had come down to a final three and Slegers was one of those three candidates. The Guardian’s Tom Garry also reports that Slegers made it to the final round of interviews for the post. Other than that, sources remain very tight lipped on how the process will conclude but we expect an announcement prior to the Crystal Palace game next weekend.

When quizzed on the situation in her Friday press conference, Slegers said, ‘The club is in a process, very detailed about it and we trust them. But we are putting the focus back onto the team because that is what made us so strong the last couple of months, the team has been stepping up and is very comfortable with what we have been doing in the building. From the outside I understand you don’t see it but behind the scenes, there is incredible hard work from players and staff.

‘The girls came back from the break really fresh, mentally and physically, they look very refreshed and we focus on the here and now and Bristol on Sunday. I have big trust in the club, they are very keen to make a good decision.’

The Dutch coach continued to throw the praise for Arsenal’s revival onto the players, adding, ‘Everything that is happening, the work players and staff are putting in is amazing and they are doing a great job. Trust the players and the staff that we are really pushing and trying to get the best out of ourselves.

‘The processes that are happening are on a very high level…I don’t think this individual role is going to make the biggest impact, the biggest impact in what has been happening until now is what the players have been doing. I am only really confronted with it when I am in here, but on the inside nobody ever mentions it, everyone is putting in their work, players and staff and everyone is doing that really well.’

Asked whether the lack of a resolution will impact the January transfer window, Slegers explained, ‘That is important but there are a lot of people working behind the scenes on that, Technical Committee and recruitment department and Clare, there is a direction the club wants to go in so it is not just dependent on the Head Coach. We are very happy with the player group we have at the moment.’

Arseblog News asked Slegers whether Arsenal are planning to add to their squad in the window, to which Slegers responded, ‘We are very happy with the players in the building, they have been performing well and everyone is trying to push and get the best out of themselves and each other.

‘We are in a really good place with the squad at the moment with the players that are here, so we are very happy with that. A big club like us we always looking to take the next step and always active but, at the moment, there will be very little movement, we are happy with the players in the building.’

Laila Harbert, Maddy Earl and Katie Reid have all signed professional contracts this season very close to their 18th birthdays. Arseblog News asks Slegers whether they, and other academy products like Freya Godfrey might go out on loan in January, ‘We are very happy with the young players, with every individual we are trying to look for their best way to keep on developing. For some that will be a loan and for some that will be staying with us, depending on where they are in their development. We are looking at it.’

One academy product yet to sign a professional deal is Vivienne Lia, who turned 18 in September, when asked about her situation specifically by Arseblog News, Slegers said, ‘You have good insight!…Whatever is in the outside world you know already, for the rest we are looking for the best opportunities for our young talent to develop.’

Slegers confirmed that Lia Walti is back training with the squad and in contention for Sunday’s FA Cup tie at home to Bristol City, which is subject to a Sunday morning pitch inspection, she also told Arseblog News that Lina Hurtig and Emily Fox were given a little extra time off over Christmas and came back to training later than the rest of their teammates. We also asked whether Kathrine Kuhl will be omitted from the squad to prevent her from being cup tied ahead of a January move, Slegers wouldn’t be drawn, simply saying, ‘Ke is in the building and training with us.’