Renee Slegers said that Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Real Madrid was the best performance of her reign, while Alessia Russo says that her side always knew that they could turn the draw while the Gunners destroyed a 2-0 deficit on the first stage to book their place in the Women's Champions League.
Russo was in the heart of Arsenal's quarter-final second legs on the Emirates, with the two goals of the England to help Slees Side-Vecht back from last week's defeat in Madrid to win 3-2.
Lennee from Manchester City Chloe Kelly continued her stunning return to the capital with two assists, one of which was for the head of the former midfielder of Barcelona, Mariona Caldentey who brought the draw.
Gunners Boss Slegers, who took over as an interim in October before they were appointed permanent coach in January, will now lead her team against Lyon in the semi -final next month.
“We have done really good things before and have had good versions against good teams, but this is definitely one of them,” said butchers when he was asked if the victory was the best evening of her term of office.
“This is perhaps the clearest where you play a opponent, the game looks like it does and then you come back a week later and you make a performance and result ahead. So I think this is probably the clearest.”
Arsenal scored three times in 14 minutes after the break to turn the draw.
Russo's first came after Caitlin Foord Infield increased and Kelly had to cross for her teammate of England to apply the simple finish.
After the header of Caldentey, the clinical finish of Russo in the area after a free kick by Katie McCabe took its count in Europe for the campaign to seven.
“It was calm. We spoke earlier that we should be calm in every scenario,” were slies who were added with Arsenal during the break with two goals on aggregated.
“If we don't (stay calm), then we won't find the solution. Everyone was calm, we thought we were dominant. I saw in the eyes of the players we believed and they were very determined in a good way.
“Alessia was really good for us again. She scored goals, but she also does so many things for the team that are important, she delivers so much work.
“It is important for the club, for the team. They want to go far into the tournament, win things and be on the biggest stage. I am very happy with the result and to reach the semi -final.”
Russo: We knew we could convert
Russo admitted that there was a huge disappointment after the first stage in Spain, but she insists that the Gunners always knew that they could turn the draw to keep their Champions League dream alive.
“I think playing Champions League evenings at Emirates is what it's all about,” she explained. “That is what we want to do. That is what this club deserves. And yes, the fans deserved it tonight. They were so loud. They were completely with us. But yes, this is exactly what you want to do when you play football.
“It was great,” Russo added after scoring twice and having two more goals excluded. “I think it is not yet set. I mean, of course we were disappointed last week, but I think that as soon as we knew we came home to the Emirates, we had a whole belief within the team, within the team, that we could turn it around.
“As soon as we left from the first minute, I had the feeling that we were at the top, although it took a while for the first goal. But yes, we have that belief in the team and we knew we could turn it around.”
Williamson: Result step in the right direction in Champions League
Arsenal is contrary to silverware this season – they are from the FA Cup and eight points behind the Super League leaders of Women Chelsea.
They are now confronted with a huge test against record eight times winners Lyon in the semi-final, but Arsenal defender Leah Williamson believes that Arsenal has taken a huge step in the right direction in the Champions League against Real Madrid while they want to add the trophy that the club won in 2007.
“I am friends with many people who won it last time,” said Williamson.
“I know how much they want it to stay in the club and us to do it again. And we have not been close enough if we are honest. So we have to try to come back there. This was the right step.
“Champions League attendance record, I think, for a quarterfinals (22,517 were with the emirates). So it's like everyone is together and everyone drives in the right direction. But we know that that's difficult. So we celebrate today and then back to the drawing table Friday. And we start again.”
Analysis: Russo will get the headlines – but Kelly was the star
Sky Sports' Ron Walker in the Emirates Stadium:
“Arsenal needed someone to perform and save their season, which was free from the rest for 45 minutes.
“Alessia Russo was the woman to start and finish their rocket from a comeback, but Chloe Kelly, in her best performance since her return in January, was the unfortunate hero.
“Even when the Gunners struggled in the first half, her deliveries of the right flank begged to get home, and it just took a bit of the peace of Renee Slees to get Russo in position on the rear pole to do that 44 seconds after the break.
“Her delivery for Mariona Caldentey's equalizer was just as dangerous minutes later. She never wanted to see her number emerging when she was replaced halfway through the second period, but at least she got the reception she had earned.
“The fact that Arsenal Beth Mead can cause her place shows the level that the Gunners have in certain positions – and why they will believe that they can do all this again, maybe a little less dramatic, against Lyon next month.”
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