Arsenal v Real Madrid: 'Easier on a golf course than rocks' for Gunners, says Renee Slegers in scathing pitch assessment
Published 25/03/2025 at 18:22 GMT
Arsenal have a difficult task ahead of them as they look to remain in the UEFA Women's Champions League after losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final. The pitch at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano was a major talking point after last week's clash, and Renee Slegers again made reference to the surface as Arsenal return to the more familiar surroundings of Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal manager Renee Slegers again criticised the state of Real Madrid's pitch, claiming it will be "easier on a golf course than rocks" in the second leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final at Emirates Stadium.
The playing surface in Madrid for the first leg was labelled a "disgrace" by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.
The Liga F side took a 2-0 lead in the tie ahead of Wednesday's return leg - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
And Slegers said the quality of the pitch at the Emirates should work in her side's favour.
"We have a style of play where we want to be on the ball a lot, where we want to move the ball, passes, and of course it's going to be easier on a golf course than on rocks," Slegers said in her pre-match press conference.
"But we have to deal with any circumstance, and if the competition rules say that this pitch is clear to play, then we have to play on it and we have to deal with it. But we like good pitches, of course. I think any team does."
Slegers also highlighted the potential impact of the bumper home crowd in north London.
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"I think us together with the fans, when we're at our best, we can create something magical and they give us that extra edge," Slegers said.
"We really thrive at the Emirates, so everything is set up for us to perform, but then it's still about ourselves, what we bring to the game tomorrow."
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The Champions League is now the priority for Arsenal after scuppering their FA Cup and League Cup campaigns, alongside a likely insurmountable eight-point gap to Women's Super League leaders Chelsea, with just five games remaining of the 2024/25 season.
Slegers' side bounced back from defeat in Madrid with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Liverpool last weekend, and captain Leah Williamson has emphasised the importance of the coming week.
"It's the biggest week I suppose that we've had in terms of staying in, or biggest month we've had for competitions, knockout competitions. This game's no different," she said.
"So I think the work that we've done, you can see a direction that we're going in, and we need to make results matter and count for us always as a football club.
"So the focus never shifts, but we can't think about those sorts of things. We just focus on the task in hand and the next game. And we're always trying to win, obviously."
Watch the UEFA Women's Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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