Renee Slegers: Arsenal Women’s manager tells us how the Gunners won the Champions League | soccer news

Renee Slegers rubbed her face and took a deep breath when asked what it felt like to try to win the game’s biggest club competition.

“The feeling of winning the Champions League final will stay with me forever.” The Arsenal manager told me at the club’s training ground.

“The important thing to remember is the beautiful and difficult work we have done together. It has been truly amazing.

“I knew I had to have those moments because it takes so much effort. If you never reflect, you’ll lose the bigger picture and not enjoy it as much.”

As the first coach to lead Arsenal to European glory since 2007, Slegers will forever be a club legend. But the dramatic way her team advanced to the finals makes the achievement even more memorable.

After losing 5-2 to Bayern Munich, Arsenal became worried about being eliminated from the group stage. They did so, but lost 2-0 in a bogged down stadium in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Real Madrid.

But the Slegers knew this could be The Gunners’ year after a routine WSL game against West Ham tested their nerves, losing 3-1 early in the second half.

“It was a tough game. We came back from 4-3 down and scored three goals in six minutes. What we did at West Ham gave us a lot of faith going forward and gave us the belief that we can do it at any point.”

Arsenal’s players clearly relished the role of comeback queen. They took that spell to the Emirates against Real Madrid and never looked back.

“That was the turning point,” Slegers recalls. “After losing 2-0 away in very difficult conditions, it was still 0-0 at half-time.”

Arsenal scored three goals in 13 minutes to oust the Spanish side and instil undying pride and optimism in north London.

“We leveraged capital because we have so much faith in the team.”

That positive attitude was dashed when Arsenal lost the first leg of the semi-final to Lyon, beating the eight-time French champions 4-1.

“What we did against Lyon was a different challenge for their players and their legacy. For me it was: “If we can do this against Lyon, it says a lot about this team.”

Despite sending a message to the rest of the continent by beating the most successful team in Champions League history, Arsenal entered the final against Barcelona as underdogs.

With two weeks to prepare for the match in Lisbon, Slegers’ coaching minds were working overtime to devise a plan to prop up the reigning champions.

But after a long WSL season, the Slegers quickly realized that their players were not immediately ready to deal with the physical and mental challenges of trying to beat the world’s best.

She gave her players time off, spoke to her behind-the-scenes team and senior players and then put into motion a slightly modified plan to take on the all-conquering Catalans.

“Those 12 days were great, the best I’ve ever been a part of. We were all working towards the same goal: the excitement and drive to beat what on paper was the best team in the world.”

It shows the belief in the team and how it has made Slegers feel in unexpected places. She was about to face the biggest game of her coaching career.

“On the bus to the stadium, in the tunnel, going out to the ground… it was so quiet, and so were the players. When I looked around the dressing room 10 minutes before the game started, everyone was quiet as ever.

“No stress, no players too excited, just perfect.”

But Slegers knew about the thousands of Arsenal fans who had occupied parts of Lisbon with the intention of painting the city red.

Friends sent her a video of Gunners supporters cheering her name and creating the best atmosphere in the Women’s Champions League.

“It gave me goosebumps. I thought, ‘Is this what we are making for so many people?’ It was a responsibility, but we also felt that what we were doing could have an impact on society.”

We all know what happened that famous night at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Stina Blackstenius pushed the ball past Cata Coll from Beth Mead’s through ball and Arsenal were crowned European champions after an 18-year wait with a 1-0 win.

“I had every possible mix of emotions,” Slegers admitted with a big smile.

“I felt relieved because there was so much tension. I felt incredibly happy and proud. I saw the players crying and screaming, I saw the fans, I thought of my family and parents in the stands, and the staff who gave up so much.”

The first half of the following season did not go as planned for Arsenal, with Slegers’ side eight points ahead of WSL leaders Manchester City.

Sledgers’ contract also expires at the end of the season, meaning the first few months of 2026 could be crucial for the club and coach.

Whatever happens, Slegers knows his special 2025 will be a year to cherish.

Reflecting once again, Slegers admits that “it’s going to be with me forever.”