Arsenal star Kim Little says winning the Champions League would be 'special' and 'pinnacle of anyone’s playing career' ahead of Barcelona showdown
Published 22/05/2025 at 14:37 GMT+1
Arsenal skipper Kim Little said that beating Barcelona and winning the UEFA Women's Champions League would be the "pinnacle" of her career in a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports. The Gunners, who are competing in their first Champions League final since 2007, take on Catalan giants Barcelona, who are hoping to become the first team since Lyon to win three consecutive titles.
‘Incredibly hard to stop’ – Little ‘looking forward’ to solving puzzle of Barcelona in UWCL final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Arsenal’s Kim Little said that winning the UEFA Women's Champions League would be the "pinnacle" of her career in a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports.
The Gunners take on reigning champions Barcelona in the Champions League final on Saturday, with the game live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the encounter, Arsenal skipper Little said: "The quadruple season [2006/07] was the year before I signed and the last time we were in the final of a European competition, so now to be going into one this weekend, it’s nice to reflect on how much this club’s done for the women’s game.
"To be back in a final is the pinnacle of anyone’s playing career. I can’t wait for that."
Arsenal overturned a semi-final first-leg deficit against Lyon to win the tie 5-3 and reach their first Champions League final since 2007, when they won the tournament.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be taking part in their fifth consecutive final and are hoping to win the tournament for a third year in succession.
"I got a little bit emotional," Little admitted when reflecting on Arsenal’s semi-final triumph over Lyon. "I had a little cry straight after the whistle.
"There was probably 15 or 20 minutes left in the match, and I was thinking, ‘If we win, this is quite a big thing for the club’.
"And for me personally, you put in the hard work every day, but you don’t always get these rewards, like getting to a final, so it was an appreciation of that and I just got a little overwhelmed.
"But then one of my team-mates and friends just gave me a big hug and that obviously made it more special because I’m really close to her - it was a nice moment. And then I reeled it back in, that was it, it passed. But it was a nice moment, yeah."
Slegers has brought a 'bit more freedom' to Arsenal play
Renee Slegers succeeded Jonas Eidevall as Arsenal head coach in October 2024, first as an interim, before being given the permanent job in January.
Upon her appointment, the side went on a 13-game unbeaten run, while, as per the Arsenal website, since taking the job, The Gunners have scored 58 goals, more than any other club this season.
Little said: "I think since Renee came in and Jonas left one of the main things that changed is the [difference] in characteristics and personality.
"That changed quite quickly, and that just happens when someone comes in, and someone leaves, especially in a managerial position; how they are as a person will change the dynamic in some way.
"Renee is much quieter, says less, is a little less expressive. So that changed quite quickly, and I think it’s what we needed at the time.
"And then, because of her personality and who she is, how we work is more concise and to the point. You find that with people who are less expressive and don’t talk so much - everything is condensed to fewer words.
"She’s quite direct and that, along with being concise, is quite a good combination."
Little continued: "We maybe became a bit rigid under Jonas in the way we played. We had our structure.
"And that happens as time passes. I think we weren’t as fluid. We kept a lot of the things we did under Jonas under Renee [...] but maybe a little bit more freedom came into it but not having as many words said.
"Players have been allowed to be more fluid and express themselves."
Little, who at 34 is just two years Slegers' junior, added: "As a footballer you'll go through different times in your career where you may feel more confident, you’ve got different things going on maybe outside football, inside football in how you’re feeling, maybe you’ve had injuries.
"You go through stages where you don’t feel as free in your mind, and maybe that’s replicated onto the pitch.
"I think I'm definitely in a pretty good place, and you can feel that you're much more instinctive and sharp.
"Renee has said that I’m the leader, I’m the captain, I have more responsibility in that sense, but she wants that not to be a burden.
"[She doesn’t want me to be] bogged down in anything that’s not just playing, and she expressed to me that she wants me to just focus on football and that helps a lot."
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Barcelona 'going to be incredibly hard to stop'
Despite Slegers’ excellence, Barcelona are arguably Europe’s fiercest opponent, having just sealed a 10th Liga F title and with an ambition to become only the second club after Lyon to lift the Champions League in three consecutive years.
Since losing to Manchester City on the first match day of the season, the Catalan giants have won nine straight Champions League games.
"Barcelona are one of, if not the most settled teams in the Champions League," Little said. "Their style of play, their combinations, their technical ability on the ball, but also the dynamic nature of having speed up front and on the wings.
"They’re going to be incredibly hard to stop but I think we know when we’re at the top of our game we have the capabilities of doing that, and I think a lot of it will be to do with one-v-one battles when it comes to the highest level.
"It’s about who can outdo their opponent so we have to do that as individuals and as a collective, and we’ll obviously work on that this week along with the finer details and the tactics.
"I’m looking forward to that. It’s fun. It’s why you love being a footballer. You get to put all these little bits into it and hopefully come out on Saturday in our favour if you do well.
"They’re some of the greatest midfielders to come up against, so that will be a great occasion. Those one-v-one battles will be so important.
"Their ability to combine and work off each other is one of their strengths, so in a lot of ways we need to stop that, disrupt their rhythm and minimise their chances. I’ll be doing all I can to stop that."
When asked if she had imagined the prospect of lifting the trophy on Saturday, Little said: "We’ve lifted trophies over the last few years at the club.
"Me and Leah [Williamson] will step up and lift it, so obviously that’s crossed my mind, but not for more than a few seconds.
"But it would be a special moment to do that with the club and with Leah, but we’ll leave that until Saturday at 7 or 8pm. Time will tell."
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