In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Arsenal Women-Baas Renee Sleers reflect on their semi-final victory over Lyon in the Women's Champions League and calls it “a very special moment”.
On Sunday, Arsenal defeated the most successful team in the history of the Champions League to qualify for their first final of the competition since 2007, when they became the first and only English team it won.
Arsenal came back from a shortage of one goal to beat Lyon 5-3, of which Slegers say it was a huge moment for the club.
“The way it was done was very high. I am very happy and very proud,” she told Sky Sports News.
“[2007] Is 18 years ago. The club has invested in women's football for so long and everyone is so happy with all the work that was done in those years that we are on this point again.
“It is very big for many people, and of course for the players and employees who do the work. It was a very special moment because there is so much preparation, so much work has gone in these two games.”
But butchers said she woke up on the day, completely focused on the game, rather than how great the opportunity was.
“There are few moments when I think of what it means, because I have to be good in my role and concentrate on the here and now to reach that point.
“But of course, there [was] Insight into how big it is, so that is there. If you don't have the perspective of what you do, you don't know what you are doing. “
'We had to go outside and be brave'
In the semi -final second stage on Sunday – played for 20,000 people – Lyon gave more goals than in the entire competition.
Arsenal not only had more possession, shots and goals, but they also benefited from Lyon's crumbling defense, who were always prepared to deal with their blunders.
Lyon has won the Champions League eight times in the last 15 years, the last in 2022 under the current Chelsea Women head coach Sonia Bompastor.
“We had to set off and perform what we wanted with 100 percent commitment and determination and that is what the players did,” said butchers about the most successful women's team in Europe.
But what makes her happiest is that the team will perform at the level that she knows they can perform.
“We develop, we get the maximum of people and we work together and work towards something. We are at the highest level and well performing,” she added.
“I am very proud that as a team at the moment with so much pressure – one of the biggest games that the players have played – could perform that way. It is excellent.”
And modest, butchers credit the implementation to the medical department and say: “To prepare so many players to perform at such a high level with such intensity. That is a large part of it.
“Then we have so much competence in different areas of our game at the technical staff. It is together with the players, because there is a lot of player involvement.”
Players who, in all respects, have had a tumultuous season after they have been eliminated from both domestic cup matches and deal with the departure of Jonas Eidevall in October.
Slegers, who plan time in her diary at the office hours, so that players can talk to her about everything they want, believe that being happy in your area is crucial for the success of the team.
“[If] You know your role and you feel engaged, dedicated and connected to what we do, I think you get the best out of yourself, “she said.” If you get the best out of yourself, you can get the best out of people around you, so that's what we have tried to create.
“We have to enjoy what we do – even in an environment like ours, who works at the highest level, I think that is still a very important ingredient to be able to perform.”
'I am so happy that little little one can play in a final of the Champions League'
And although Slagers emphasizes that the team is a group of people who all dreamed of making a Champions League final, it is extra special for Captain Kim Little, who started playing for Arsenal 17 years ago – a season after they won the Day Uefa Women's Cup.
“I get goosebumps,” said butchers. “If you zoom in on Kim, who has been in the club for so long, has played her football at such a high level for so long, she has never played one [European] final.
“Everyone sees what she puts in, how hard she commits and how hard she works. It's at an incredible level. I am so happy for her that she can play a final.”
After Sunday's game, Arsenal mate Leah Williamson Little An 'Incredible football player who goes under the radar'.
Little's experience will be necessary in Lisbon on 24 May, when Arsenal is opposite Barcelona in the final, who beat Chelsea 8-2 and have won three of the last four Champions League titles.
“We spoke about faith prior to [Sunday’s] Game and you can believe and be convinced of something without proof, but I think what we have made now, proof and proof is that we can do it against top teams, “aimed at the sloer parties.
“It puts more pressure on ourselves, but we also know that Barcelona is looking forward to the last, Barcelona is a completely different team, so it will be a different challenge.”