Arsenal Women's head coach Renée Slegers held a press conference at the Allianz Arena ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Women's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. She discussed team news, including an ACL injury to Katie Reid, and expressed high respect for the opponents following last season's tight encounters. The same squad from the recent Chelsea game will be available, though Kim Little remains sidelined.
Renée Slegers addressed the media on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena, looking forward to the UEFA Women's Champions League matchup against Bayern Munich the following day. She provided updates on injuries and team preparations, emphasizing the challenges posed by the German side.
Injury Updates
Slegers confirmed that defender Katie Reid suffered an ACL injury early in the season. 'Yeah, it's always horrible, especially for her herself. She started the season so well for us,' Slegers said. Reid, who has shown maturity and growth in the squad, is scheduled for surgery and plans to use her recovery time to develop further as a player. Slegers highlighted the broader issue of ACL injuries, calling for increased awareness, research, and understanding to prevent them, noting the game's rapid evolution.
Midfield captain Kim Little is progressing in her recovery but is still training individually and unavailable for the match. The rest of the squad is the same as that used against Chelsea, with all players recovering well from that fixture.
Match Expectations and Last Season's Context
Slegers praised Bayern as a strong team with similar qualities to last season, when Arsenal secured a 3-2 victory in tough conditions. 'That game was crucial in how I see the team, where I see the potential... the resilience that we showed,' she reflected. The win highlighted the team's mentality, dealing with threats from set-pieces and direct play despite rain and wind.
She specifically noted Bayern's Georgia Stanway as a key threat: 'She's a great player... they like to get her on the ball. She tries in those moments to be able to conduct play and she has an intelligence on the pitch.' Stanway excels in short and long passes, duels, and defending.
Leadership and Squad Depth
Slegers clarified the leadership structure, with co-captains Kim Little and Leah Williamson, supported by Steph Catley, Katie McCabe, and Lotte Wubben-Moy. She commended Catley's composure and communication skills: 'She's always very composed. She's calm and she role models on everything that we want.' Wubben-Moy, recently returning from illness, demonstrated resilience in the Chelsea game at the Emirates, stepping up professionally.