Arsenal Women's Renée Slegers and Mariona Caldentey preview Lyon ahead of UWCL semi-final
18/04/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
18/04/2025
Sobha Realty Training Ground, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hi Renee, good to see you, can we just start with team news because I've had a few question marks for fans that are concerned about Alessia and Chloe.
00:09Any good news?
00:11Alessia and Chloe are both available tomorrow.
00:14Any other concerns going into the game?
00:17It's the ones that we've been talking about before and then Daphne van Domslaan won't be available.
00:25Okay then, everyone else?
00:28Yes, yes.
00:292007 is a long time to wait for this club to lift this trophy.
00:34Now sometimes for players, coaches, they can put pressure on you but in other times it can breed excitement and motivation.
00:42What's the group feeling going into this?
00:44Yeah, the latter.
00:48We started this journey early in the season with the mini tournament and we're here now
00:54and I think us beating Madrid and doing what we did in the way we did it, we're so happy with that
01:01and we're so happy with going to the semi-final and of course we understand the challenge that we're facing across these two games
01:10because Leon is very experienced, they've been here many times before so we have huge respect for who they are,
01:18their coach, their individual players and their history.
01:22But we're happy that we're here, that we put ourselves in this situation and this is exactly where we want to be
01:27and we look forward to the game tomorrow.
01:29Rene, talk to me about the belief in the group because you've had a remarkable time of things since taking over here this season.
01:37But that comeback against Real Madrid must have given you and the group just something completely different going into the rest of the season.
01:46Yeah, that was a big moment but I think we believed so much that we could do it in that game because of other things that we had been doing in the season before.
01:55So I think the team keeps on proving time after time what we're capable of and there's some key moments that we've gone through in the season that made me believe what we can do.
02:07And of course the Madrid at home game, I think the composure under pressure, the way we played our game on a very high level,
02:18we set ourselves some new standards and we did it in this critical moment where we come from 45 minutes, 0-0, half time,
02:27and then we have to do it in the second half. So I think that was a big moment for us as a team.
02:32Mariana, look, you know this competition pretty well. You certainly have great memories last season in particular.
02:39From a player's perspective, what does it take to win this competition?
02:44Well, I think we are here because we deserve to be here. We were top of the group against Bayern, for example, big team,
02:52and then we beat Real Madrid. So we have to believe in that we are here because we deserve to be here.
02:58Now we face Lyon, that it's a top, top team, and we have to respect that. But I think we have to have no fear.
03:06And we respect them, but we want to go for it. It's two games and the first one is at home with our fans.
03:12So I think we are ready for that. We are so excited to play, and I think we have our football as well,
03:19and we want to show it to all the world, and hopefully it will be good for everyone.
03:24Have you been speaking to the group and sharing your experience from your successful Champions League campaign previously?
03:32Well, we do speak a lot about life, about football, because we spend a lot of time together.
03:38But I think the team has the mentality of winning as well, so that's the most important.
03:43I think that's a bit contagious as well. So I think, how I said, we want to win titles.
03:49Of course, Champions League is a big one. We know we are still a bit far away right now.
03:54It's three games for that, but we have to start tomorrow, and I think everyone is hungry for titles.
03:59So this mentality, we need to keep it. We need to improve every day.
04:03And we are there because we deserve it, how I said.
04:06And now we are four best teams in Europe, and we are one of them.
04:10So we want to go more.
04:13Rene, finally, it's been a pretty good week for Arsenal Football Club as a whole.
04:20It's been a good journey for both teams in the Champions League.
04:23The men's team might have been inspired by your comeback recently.
04:27How inspired is your group from what the men's team achieved this week,
04:31and how much can they use that going into Saturday?
04:35Yeah, so I really feel like since I've come to the club that it's one club.
04:39And I've naturally been in contact with the assistant coach on the men's side because he's Dutch.
04:48But after we won against Madrid, I got messages from everyone across the club, including Mikel,
04:54and he said it was inspirational.
04:57And if you look at what they now did against Madrid, I think it's so strong.
05:02I think they look as a team, and I think that's why they won against Madrid.
05:08Madrid with so much individual quality.
05:11So it's amazing to be a part of this.
05:13There was just some media here at the club as well.
05:16Julian Timber is sitting there.
05:18He says, hey, Rene, good luck for tomorrow.
05:20So the guys also know what we are doing, and we know what they are doing, and we support each other.
05:25So that's great.
05:27Thanks.
05:28Thanks, James.
05:29Joe from BBC.
05:30I have a similar question to Mariona.
05:31Given the men doing so well this week in Europe with your massive game this weekend,
05:36there must be a very special feeling in the training ground as a whole at the moment.
05:39Well, these games are the games that everyone wants to play, right?
05:43But we are ready for it, and it is a special competition.
05:47It's a special arrival as well.
05:49And we play at home, how I said.
05:51That's even more special.
05:53So we are happy to be here.
05:56We have to enjoy the moment because we work so hard every day for long months for being here where we are today.
06:03So I think that's our gift to ourselves, and we just need to do what we have done already.
06:11And I'm sure we will be fine.
06:14Renee, I'm sure you're going to say that you've just focused on Arsenal,
06:18but former Arsenal defender Jen Vitti this week said that she thinks that they are there for the taking
06:23and potentially not the onside that we've seen before.
06:26Is that your take on where they're at at the moment?
06:28Like I just said, huge respect for their history.
06:32And what they have been doing and producing in the Champions League in Europe.
06:38I think they're still a very strong side.
06:41But like Mariona just mentioned, us playing at the Emirates and the hunger and the belief that we have at the team at the moment,
06:49we're going to go and play our game to the best we can.
06:53And then we believe that even though with huge respect to the individual qualities and threats that they will bring to the game,
07:00we believe we can do something tomorrow and we're going to go for it.
07:04You touched on playing at the Emirates.
07:06The Emirates seem to see something very special for this team.
07:08We've seen it several times already this season.
07:10With that in mind, how important is it that you go into the second leg for the league?
07:15Yeah, but that's going to be important tomorrow because of course Madrid, we play them away first and then we play at home.
07:23That's nothing. We don't wait for anything tomorrow.
07:27We know that tomorrow is our chance. I think 40,000 tickets sold.
07:30There will be an enormous crowd. So we're going to go and go from the start because we enjoy playing at the Emirates.
07:37And we're at one of the final stages of the Champions League.
07:41It's a huge moment and we're going to do it here in London at the Emirates.
07:44And we want to go for it and we want to take the opportunity by the throat.
07:50Do you say so in English? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
07:54Thank you very much. That's a lot.
07:58Hi, Renee. Just on Chloe and Alessia, would they be fit to play 90 minutes if required tomorrow?
08:05They will be fully available. So that's great. I think both players have been working really, really hard to get to this point together with the medical team.
08:15So that's great. So they are available for a lot of minutes tomorrow.
08:20I think this is just a different scenario where we play home first and then away. So like I just said, we want to take this opportunity playing at the Emirates in front of 40,000 people in the stands.
08:35And so in that sense, it's totally different. So we're going to want to start fast and we want to go for it at the Emirates tomorrow.
08:42So that's going to be key for us. So we want to get the best result possible tomorrow. And then we'll see what that is. And then we go to Lyon the week after.
08:54There'll be a familiar face in that opposition dugout with many people. So I said you've asked him at Joe Montemuro. Have you been, I don't know, leaning at all on any of the players that have played under him for any insight into him and his star tomorrow?
09:06He was actually my mentor when I was part of a mentorship program, I think five, six years ago.
09:27I actively asked for him as my mentor because I heard a lot of good things about his leadership, his football philosophy and how he is as a person.
09:39And it was great working with him. I learned a lot of things. I was visiting him here at Arsenal when he was working here.
09:47So I know Joe and he knows me and he knows the club and the players as well.
09:55So, but of course, a lot of things have changed since he left. So, yeah, it's going to be a great encounter. I look forward to seeing him tomorrow.
10:04Have you exchanged any messages since it was confirmed by Arsenal and Lyon playing in general?
10:10No, I think the last exchange has been one or two months ago. So no, no, not in a while.
10:16And if you don't need the other players then to lean on Joe, are you leaning at all on the woman next to you with her Champions League experience
10:24and winning the Champions League experience?
10:26Yeah, so Mariona has been there. She did it last year. So Mariona's a winner in everything, in every single drill in training she wants to win.
10:39And that's what she's bringing to this team. So she's moving the culture forward, I think, and we're learning a lot from Mariona.
10:47Mariona, obviously the season is very much not over yet, but as you approach the end of your first season in England with Arsenal and the WSL, how will you reflect on how it's gone?
11:02Well, I'm so happy to be here. I feel like home from the first day. Everyone helped me a lot.
11:08I thought I could maybe need some time to adapt because it's a big change for me.
11:15But to be honest, like everyone on the club, on the team, make that process so easy for me.
11:22So I feel really comfy and I can play my football. I can enjoy. And I think that's the best thing.
11:29That's when you can performance, when you feel yourself and comfy.
11:34So I think I am in the right place. I am where I want to be. So I just hope we keep working how we are doing.
11:43And I'm sure the titles and the good moments will arrive for the club because I think that's what we deserve.
11:51And just finally, we've talked a lot about strength of the WSL and the growth of the WSL in recent years.
11:58But in the Champions League, English clubs haven't been able to win it.
12:03It's been your former club, Barcelona, or the team you're playing tomorrow in Lyon.
12:07Why do you think English clubs haven't quite been able to get past those two teams in the past?
12:12And why do you think it might be different this season?
12:15I just think it's so hard to be there because there is a lot of good teams.
12:21Like everyone is working hard because everyone wants to be there.
12:24I think Lyon was so successful for a lot of years in a row.
12:27Now lately, Barca as well. So I think English clubs have been there as well.
12:31I remember we played a final against Chelsea three years ago or four years ago.
12:36So, I mean, English clubs are there. They are top teams.
12:41But it's just not that easy because everyone wants to be there.
12:45So now it's four teams and two of them are English.
12:48So I think that's a sign as well.
12:50And we'll see what happens.
12:52And hopefully one English club can be in the final and hopefully it's us.
12:57Yeah, so she's progressing really well.
13:09So we'll see when and where she will be available for us again.
13:14So I can't share any more.
13:16But just saying it's positive and the progression is going very well for her.
13:22And to Jo's point that she made earlier, I was just wondering,
13:27were you at the first leg for the men's game against Real Madrid?
13:30And because I think I saw you on camera there, but I wasn't sure.
13:36I wasn't there. I wasn't in the stadium, no.
13:38Okay, even though you weren't there.
13:43Could you kind of take inspiration from, I guess, the first leg being at home
13:47for them in that kind of situation?
13:49Because obviously you brought that now yourselves and it's a different situation
13:54to what you had in the previous round.
13:57No, yeah, very much.
13:59Because the way the men's team executed that game as a first of two legs,
14:06I think that's how we want to go about this game tomorrow as well.
14:10So that was very inspiring to see.
14:12And I think also similar maybe in the threats in Madrid that they had to nullify.
14:19And we have some challenges ahead of us as well.
14:22So it was inspirational to watch.
14:24And I think how they've managed to go, or how they've managed to go about these two legs.
14:31I think very positive and inspiring.
14:36And yeah, I'm very happy for the men's team that they achieved what they achieved.
14:41And I think this is the first time in the club history that we're both in the semifinals.
14:45So yeah, that's great.
14:48And Marianne, I was going to ask about your first season here.
14:52I think earlier in the season you were playing on the wing, number 10 sometimes.
14:57Now seeing you deeper in the field, how you've kind of found that progression throughout the year?
15:03Well, all I want is to be on the pitch and play.
15:07That's all that matters for us.
15:09And I'm ready for whatever the team or the coach asks to me.
15:14I just love to be around the ball and in contact with the ball.
15:19So I'm happy to play anywhere.
15:22Just to be on the pitch and try to bring what I can bring to the team
15:27and try to make everything easier for my teammates like how they do for me.
15:32So it's easy to play with this team.
15:35So it's not a problem.
15:37And with your time at Barcelona, I guess you were there for the whole journey from,
15:41I guess, early years and then getting to the Champions League finals.
15:45I was wondering what you kind of reflect on in that time.
15:48How, I guess, how you were able to make those steps
15:52to consistently being in the latter stages of the Champions League
15:56and what it takes to actually get there?
15:59I think what I learned is that the talent is not enough.
16:04You need to work hard.
16:06You need to be fit.
16:07You need to be ready for that battle, for the physical momentum as well.
16:12And, like, it's not that easy and it needs time and it needs teamwork.
16:18And I think that's what we are building now here as well.
16:21Like, I can feel it.
16:22I can see how much we improved already with that month.
16:26So sometimes we are impatient and we want to see everything already.
16:30But football, sometimes it takes some time.
16:33And I think we need to believe in what we are doing in the Arsenal way,
16:38what we want to play, what we want to be.
16:40And we are there.
16:41We are on the way.
16:42So I think we just need to keep going.
16:45Thanks.
16:46Thanks, Sarah.
16:47Sarah.
16:48Hi, thanks.
16:49Hi, Rene.
16:50Hi, Mariona.
16:51Rene, just a first question for you.
16:52You talked about getting the best possible result tomorrow.
16:56Well, over both of us, I guess.
16:58I mean, what would be the significance of getting a good result tomorrow
17:01against Lyon in terms of the journey Arsenal have been on,
17:04particularly from that 5-2 last October in Champions League?
17:10Yeah, no, that's what we are going for tomorrow.
17:14But then we also know that football is unpredictable
17:17and it could go on the post into the goal
17:21and it can go on the post outside of the goal.
17:23So the margins are going to be small tomorrow
17:25because it's two top teams playing against each other.
17:28But yeah, it's very important for us to get a good result tomorrow.
17:33At the same time, we know that this is two games.
17:35Tomorrow will only be half-time,
17:38so there will be a lot of work to do still in Lyon as well,
17:42whatever the result tonight.
17:44But yeah, we want to start well tomorrow.
17:48And like I said, we play at the Emirates tomorrow
17:50with 40,000 people in the crowd.
17:52So we look forward to it.
17:54Thanks.
17:55And Mariona, I read an interview you did last month
17:58where you talked about, obviously in the past week, Barcelona,
18:01the kind of dominance they've had by domestic England
18:04and also giving to Europe as being brutal and absolute.
18:07Arsenal used to be brutal and absolute to all their opponents
18:11over the years in the past.
18:12Do you feel that there's the capacity for them to get back to that point?
18:16And can you see them perhaps becoming a bigger threat in Europe?
18:22Well, I think that's what we want to do.
18:25We want to dominate our opponents and the games.
18:28But I think football changed as well in the last years.
18:31Like it's not easy to win any game.
18:34And we have to evaluate every little thing we achieve
18:38because everyone is ready and everyone wants to beat us
18:41and everyone wants to win as well.
18:43So it's hard in that sense.
18:45But I think how I said, like, we are doing a lot of good things.
18:48We are on the right way.
18:51And I think we have the quality, we have the mentality
18:55and that's what we want.
18:57So we will go for it.
19:00Helen.
19:01Yeah, I'll go with Mariona first.
19:03On Tuesday, Rene said that you made everyone around you play better.
19:08Which was nice.
19:10And I also compared you to an octopus, which I think...
19:15Because you seem to be everywhere on the pitch.
19:18Like a polter, yes, an octopus.
19:20Yeah, yeah, I know.
19:22I wonder how your role has changed from when you were at Barcelona
19:27where there were loads of people like that,
19:31whereas you've got much more maybe of a central role.
19:34I wonder if your role has changed since you left Barcelona.
19:37Well, that's a big compliment. Thank you.
19:39I think that's something good.
19:42Well, my role in Barca was quite similar.
19:45I started more on the wing, but I ended in a central position.
19:49So I think, you know, that's how I am.
19:53And it didn't change and it won't change.
19:56We have to adapt to each other and that's all.
19:59But I think my game is exactly the same as it was in Barca.
20:03And it's just that I am a team player in that sense.
20:07I love to pass and I love to combine it with everyone.
20:11That's how I enjoy football.
20:13And I think even if it's maybe the starting position, it is different.
20:18I think my role is exactly the same.
20:20So I feel comfy with that.
20:22What do you expect tomorrow from the game tomorrow?
20:24Well, Lyon is a really big, big team.
20:28I respect them a lot.
20:30They have such talented players and they are so dangerous.
20:34So it will be a tight game.
20:35But we have to believe in ourselves.
20:37We already showed to us, to ourselves and to everyone that we can be a top team as well.
20:45So it will be a tight game.
20:47And we have, how Rene said, it will be small margins and small details.
20:52So we have to be focused and take our opportunities, be solid in defense
20:57because they are really, really dangerous in the tag part.
21:00So, I mean, it's a semi-final, so it won't be easy for sure.
21:05Thanks, and Rene.
21:07Bear with me again.
21:09I was watching very closely the last couple of games.
21:12One when I was at home and one when I was there.
21:14And it strikes me that the system has evolved a lot, especially maybe in this year,
21:19so in the last couple of blocks.
21:21And the thing I could compare it to was, I don't know if you had this thing as a kid,
21:25which was like a cat's cradle.
21:27So it's called a cat and fig in Dutch, where you move the thing,
21:32but the structure always has to remain balanced.
21:35So if people move down there, a whole load of people,
21:38but you do this thing with the string and whatever,
21:40and it's a very elastic system.
21:42Is that something you've sort of built in?
21:44Because it does seem like the shape changes like all the time.
21:48Suddenly Beth Mead is back as the sixth because the center backs are piled forward,
21:52not just for a set piece, but there seems to be much more fluidity.
21:56Yeah, so I think a framework and structure are important to be able to be creative.
22:04And I think creativity is important in my vision on football.
22:09And I think if you want to get the best out of players, that room should be there.
22:14And it also brings unpredictability to the opposition because if we're all very structured and in our positions,
22:22and then I think any good team is going to be able to defend that.
22:26So I think that's important and I'm happy with the steps that we've been taking so far.
22:33And actually some things you see in the games, I think it's the players bringing new things to the game as well.
22:45Of course, we give them the freedom to express themselves.
22:48But if you look at the Leicester game, for example, against the player-for-player system,
22:53how well we recognize that we need to play players under pressure and support underneath and then go from there.
22:59And that's when you get out of your position.
23:02But we're all comfortable with that because we know that someone else will fill my role or my space.
23:07And no, that's something that's been evolving, especially the last couple of months.
23:13I agree, and it's been a process together with the players.
23:17So I'm happy with the process and we want to take it even further.
23:21Last question. Everyone in here is pretty excited about tomorrow, I think anyway. How do you feel?
23:27Yeah, I'm also excited. Of course, there's a lot of hard work and preparation.
23:33And we need to be sharp on the day, both players and staff.
23:38So we have a task to do and that's our job.
23:43But of course, we remind ourselves that we need to enjoy the moment because we've been working so hard to get to these moments.
23:50And especially for the players, that's where they want to be and that's the types of games they want to play.
23:54So even though there's a lot of things we'll have to get right tomorrow and the task needs to be executed on a high level,
24:03we also need to enjoy what we're doing. And that all sounds good now.
24:08But tomorrow, I'm not sure I'll just be in the moment and trying to make good decisions.
24:13But afterwards, hopefully, I can enjoy.
24:18Thank you. Last one.
24:20Perfect. Hi, Renee. So I noticed that Jessie Gale was training with you guys today.
24:25Does that mean that she might be involved tomorrow at all?
24:28She does train with us structurally. She's one of our players.
24:32And we like to have her with us. So she comes and trains with us once or twice a week.
24:37So it's really good to have her with us and she's progressing really well.
24:41But she won't be in the squad tomorrow. She was just training with us today.
24:46And how important is it to have these younger players and give them that experience of these Champions League preparations,
24:51firstly for their development, but also does it have an impact on the more experienced players as well?
24:57Like any training session with us, it's learning for these young players.
25:02Because I think we're training on such a high level and they get to train with players like Mariona.
25:09So there's so much learning, but also the life of an Arsenal player.
25:13So everything you do from coming in in the morning until the meetings and the gym and all that in the afternoon.
25:20So it's also good for these younger players to get used to the routines of an Arsenal player.
25:26And Mariona, just one quickly. I saw congratulations you've just been awarded PFA WSL Fan Play of the Month.
25:35How does it feel to have been recognised so many times already in just your first season in England?
25:40Does that kind of add to how much you're enjoying your time here?
25:44Well, it is amazing, of course, like when you feel everyone recognise your work or your effort.
25:51But I always said, like, the most important is the people you work with, like your staff, your teammates.
25:57It's the ones they have to recognise you and evaluate you.
26:01So, I mean, it's nice, of course. I'm happy with that.
26:05Great. Thank you, everyone. We'll get to that.
26:10See you tomorrow.
26:11See you tomorrow.
26:12Good luck.
26:14Good luck, Octopus.
26:15Big name, Octopus.
26:16Not sure.
26:18All the players will call you there now.