Renée Slegers was back in front of the media at the Sobha Realty Training Centre for her pre-Manchester City press conference on Friday.
Our head coach began by addressing her absence with the press following Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Paris FC, and went onto share the latest team news, look ahead to the weekend’s WSL match and more.
Here’s everything she had to say on the following subjects…
on why she didn’t do post-match media on Wednesday:
Referring back to the game against Paris, and me not seeing you afterwards, I just want to tell you my story because I’m sure there will be questions, and I acknowledge the fact that it’s part of the job as well. Thank you for always helping us move the game forward, a big part of the growth of the women’s game. Tim [Stillman], you’re always there, you were there, I didn’t see you, I’m sorry. In that moment, after the game, there was emotion from my end, but controlled that quite quickly, and made the decision to be with the team instead. So I spent time with the players straight after the game. I thought that was important and that was a decision I made in the moment in my leadership, not going external or internal, I decided to be with the team. Sorry for not being there, I heard from Dan that Aaron [D’Antino] did an amazing job. We’re super aligned in our messaging and what we think and how we summarise, but I will be there next time and I’m here today.
on if she thinks she made the right choice:
I think we had that moment to connect with the team straight after. It was really important for the group, and seeing where we are, like I said, the connection that we’re in this together, and seeing that everyone wants to find the solution. Seeing that there is belief going forward, that was vital I think, and if I can say more about the players and specifically mention the captains in the team, they’ve been monumental. It’s the strongest leadership I’ve seen so far working within football, they’ve been amazing. They’re very calm, composed, solution-orientated, laser-focused. So it was a great moment and I think vital for us moving forward.
on how everyone is after a difficult night:
It was difficult, like I said, of course there was emotion after the game. For me, for the players, for the fans, everyone caring for Arsenal, and of course, in the run we’ve had. So it was a difficult night because we did some good things, we were in a 2-0 lead. There’s things that we’ve been working on that we really showed, I think we scored two really good goals, so there were glimpses of us moving towards our best. So then of course, it was really hard to take not getting the three points. But the team, like I said afterwards, how that moment was to connect, but also today. It’s strange because I have to be finding the solutions, I have to be calm, I have to give direction, I have to lead now, but at the same time, what I also feel is gratitude for how everyone is responding, and how together we are, and how the session on the pitch was today. It was really, really good. Within all that, the thinking and the laser-focus towards Sunday and knowing what we have to do, what we want to do, and put a plan together, there’s also that emotion of gratitude, so the players have been brilliant.
on what she’s speaking about with the group:
Straight after in the huddle, we were acknowledging the emotion and what we said was, difficult to take, and the way it happened, but we have to look at ourselves. What could we have done differently? Let’s close the game earlier and not allow them to come back into the game, so that’s what was said afterwards in the huddle. I think players coming out of the changing room, small individual chats, a couple of words, some hugs, some care. But also conversations about what’s the next step, and how do we look forward? Small, big, and aligning on how we want to do it. Same today, I had a really positive meeting with the players, and like I said, the application and the intent on the training pitch was really, really good.
on if we can use this moment to galvanise the squad:
What the group has shown is something I haven’t seen before from the group. So yes, we’ve had those moments before. If you think about our Champions League journey, [another] big one was West Ham at home at Boreham Wood where we came back from a difficult position, so we’ve shown coming back from setbacks and dealing with adversity and being resilient in those moments, we’ve shown that. But this is of course something else, because this has been hard for us, and we’ve been put to the test for a longer period of time now. Like I said, what I’ve seen from the group and our responding in those moments, and the strength that’s coming forward now, it’s a foundation for something really good. Then we also understand that we’re playing against Man City on Sunday, so it’s going to be a big test, and we have to be at our very, very best. But we’re going for the three points on Sunday.
on if she feels under pressure:
Always. Where it comes from, for me, is myself, a lot. I want to be good for the group. I want to be a good leader. I want to be strategically good for them. I want to get the best out of the group. So that’s where I perceive most of the pressure. But I also understand I’m the manager of Arsenal now, and we have a season ambition, and, so far, we haven’t been able to execute what we wanted. So I understand that’s part of the role, and I have to take it.
on what’s allowing a feeling of unity rather than fracture:
I think people taking responsibility, and having really strong leadership in the group, and having clear direction. I think that’s one of the positives from pre-season, the way we’ve brought the group together, and how much they care about each other, about Arsenal, about our ambition, the motivation that’s within the group. I think that foundation that we put there in pre-season has helped us now. Of course it’s not a situation that we want at all. But it’s giving us something now in the moment. But I think the big one is the strong leadership that I’ve seen in probably the most difficult time so far, over a longer run of games, how the captains have shown up, and taking the lead, and stayed calm, and find solutions, and then the rest of the group following with players taking responsibility, and wanting to own things. So that’s been really positive.
on if this game is must win for the title race:
It’s an important one, of course. It’s hugely important. We go for the three points. That’s all we can do in our preparation now, and execution on the match day, and it’s an important one. But then again. It’s October now, it’s October. It’s still early season, and we’ve had a long block with challenging games. This is one of them, we knew that beforehand, and if we want to achieve what we want to this season, then it’s an important game. It was regardless.
on team news regarding Kelly and Catley:
Chloe Kelly won’t be in the squad. Steph Catley was on the pitch today. I’ve just come in from the pitch. So we’ll get the handover, but she did what she was planned to do today. So that’s positive.
on the source of her anger on Wednesday:
Never the players. So the players have been brilliant, and like I said. I’ve seen the best sides of them that I haven’t seen before. So never the players. The situation that we’re in, of course, it’s built up, and then I think the fact that we were getting somewhere and we put ourselves in a positive scenario, got those two goals in a really good way, and then it slips through our hands again. Which that sounds like we’re not taking responsibility. It’s our responsibility that we let them back into the game. So that was the biggest factor of the night, and I’ll always look at what’s within our control. So referees not too much. I think what was tougher than that decision, because it’s fair if you want to make the call, it’s part of the rules, the laws of the game. But the ref was in positions, I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but when we tried to attack, the ref was in the line of the pass, many times, that was more frustration than the actual call.
on if there’s value in prioritising being with players after the game and switching the energy:
Absolutely. That’s also something we spoke about in the huddle on the pitch. Everyone is feeling emotions right now, and I said to the team: I’m angry. I’m really angry, and let’s try to use the emotions that we’re feeling, and let it fuel us moving forward. So that’s definitely part of. What I hope and what I see and what I believe, Is going to help us in the right direction.
on if she’s spoken with Jodie and the board recently:
Yeah definitely. There’s been a lot of contact of course I work very closely to Jodie and Claire, both in person and on the phone. I’ve had a lot of contact. And the same with Rich [Garlick] and James King as well. So there’s a strong togetherness and I’ve really felt their support, and they’re here with us, which I’m very grateful for of course because I care so much for the team, for the club. I believe in the potential that we possess and I believe that we’re on this path now. There’s obstacles. There have been obstacles. And if that’s the way, that’s the way. We have to go this path together and I believe we can come out of this.
on if she’s worried about her own position:
Like I just said on the question of pressure, I’m always putting pressure on myself. And I think my biggest pressure comes from the people closest around me. I want things to be good. Not saying that people are putting pressure on me, but that’s what I mirror back to myself. I want people to develop. I want people to go in the same direction, which is my biggest driver, and that’s my focus at the moment as well. And like I said, what I’ve seen from how the group has responded, and the potential that there is, and I think the glimpses, more than glimpses on Wednesday, there’s a strong belief in what we can do going forward. Like I said, there have been obstacles. There are obstacles. We just have to take them on.
on if she feels the full support of the board:
Yeah, that’s what I’ve felt, and yes, that’s been positive. That’s helped me of course as well, so that’s one thing. I think the club’s leadership has been really, really good and positive for me in this moment, because everyone thinks this is a difficult time, and this is not something that we want for the team and for the club. But the leadership from Claire, Rich, James, Jodie has been superb. So I want to give everything back to the club.
on why Kelly isn’t available:
She’s been managing an issue with her hamstring and didn’t consider herself to be in a good enough place physically to perform for the team, so we’re assessing, investigating and making sure that she feels 100% again.
on if there’s a timeline on her absence:
No.
on who to lean on for support when things are tricky:
People from different areas. So it’s definitely my colleagues, my tech team. They’ve been amazing in the support. Like, for example, Aaron [D’Antino] doing that [media] after the game. That’s just one example of the quality and the cool-headedness and the competence and the togetherness, determination that we possess in the tech staff and the wider staff as well. So I take a lot of support from that. I also know that I have to spend time myself to understand what is happening. So I take support in those moments as well, me being alone. But then I have external people, friends that are not involved in football that see things differently that can help me in certain scenarios, but also other coaches that I know that I’ve worked with. I have a mentor helping me with my leadership and challenges, so I have a lot of people around me. It’s sometimes really lonely, which like I said, sometimes I need to be lonely as well. It’s good for me. But I have a lot of different people around me that help support me.
on how much she leads the conversation at half-time compared to the players:
They always spend some minutes by themselves where they can connect and talk about situations in their partnerships or as a team, and then we come in, the coaches, we have a clear split in our focus areas and whatever is within that area, the coach would present the details back. But I always start and/or finish with a message to the team. So it’s a collaboration of the team, different coaches and me. And then depending on what half-time needs, what we need, anticipating the second half. So that’s very much a collaboration.
on if rotating between Borbe and Misa led to our late mistake against Paris:
I don’t think it happened because of that, but of course it’s important – if we say, we choose different goalkeepers for different games depending on what we need and the same with the outfielders, then it becomes really important that we’re clear, aligned, connected and communicating well. I wouldn’t say it had anything to do with that, but like I said, it’s important when you change personnel.
on if we’ve seen where Man City can be beaten:
We always see opportunities, of course, but at the same time, I was really impressed with Real Madrid yesterday. They made it very hard for Manchester City, especially in the first half. But of course, they’re a really strong team with a lot of individual quality, and what they’ve shown is that late in games, they always stay in it and come back. We have to be super-focused and see the opportunity on Sunday.
on if we have enough of a nasty edge to be winners:
I think so, and nastiness or grittiness can express itself in different ways, which we can do. Of course, with our performances where we haven’t been at our best, you maybe don’t see those moments as much that we can bring. But we’re convinced we can bring that to games as well in the Arsenal way, because it’s definitely there, but it comes out and expresses itself in different ways, against different teams, with different personalities. It’s definitely there.
on preparing for the atmosphere at Etihad Stadium:
I think in general, of course this is our first day back after Paris, we had the day off yesterday, we’re going to talk about what we can expect – the game plan. What we need from the team right now is laser focus, knowing the direction we want to go, and then everything outside of it is not important at the moment. We need to stay focused.
on if we have to be wary of Man City having a siege mentality:
I don’t know. How they have responded is outside of our control, and we have to focus purely on ourselves at the moment. We are very busy, like I said, laser focused, business, with a plan together, prep and then we want to go out there on Sunday.
