UWCL: Renée Slegers ‘confident’ Arsenal can overcome deficit vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Arsenal were the masters of their own downfall during Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat away at Real Madrid. Head coach Renée Slegers spoke to the media following the damaging loss, which was dealt to them in less-than-ideal conditions. She said: “It’s half time, it’s 2-0 at half time, so we are confident.”

The Gunners will host the Liga F side next Wednesday for the second leg of the quarter-final, and they have left themselves with plenty of work to do.

Gunners maintain ‘belief’ heading into home leg

Reflecting on the performance, Renée Slegers explained: “I think we have more of the ball. I think we create more chances, and I think what they did really well today was defending really well. Coming out diagonally and creating one-on-one situations.”

“So I think two of those actions, two goals. So that’s definitely something you want to do better. But as I said, it’s half time and big belief and big confidence, maybe on a different surface as well, that we can move the ball a little bit quicker and create bigger space.”

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Better pitch conditions are ‘the next step for women’s football’

Real Madrid have come under fire due to the state of the pitch at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, where this UWCL clash was held despite the Bernebéu sitting empty during the ongoing men’s international break.

The home side coped better with the game state, but it was no easy feat. Madrid has been subject to unprecedented heavy rainfall this month. The surface of the field was far below the standard we would expect to see in top-flight women’s football.

Slegers was asked about the conditions, and she remained somewhat neutral in her response.

“That’s obviously a club decision, and I’m sure that UEFA is trying to create the best conditions for the tournament. Of course, weather is not always within control. I think we’ve seen a couple of games lately where the pitch conditions haven’t been great, and I think that’s the next step for women’s football to take.”

“We spoke about it with the players before the game. We knew the condition of the pitch, so we had a plan for it,” Slegers told the press.

“But then it’s always hard, because over a season and over time, you work on things and you have an identity the way you want to do things. So then reality comes and these conditions come, and all of a sudden you need to do things differently. So that’s that’s, of course, hard, but the players tried, so all credit to them for trying and the work rate.

“But again, I think we’re all confident that we can do something against them at the Emirates at home because it’s only half time.”

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