Pedro Martinez Losa says he is pleased with the “fantastic effort” his side showed in Sunday’s FA Women’s Cup quarter-final defeat against Chelsea.
The Gunners conceded early goals to former Gunners Katie Chapman and Gemma Davison as they struggled to find a foothold in the game.
Emma Mitchell did pull one back before half-time, finding the top corner from 25 yards, but Losa admitted his team were suffering from fatigue after the international break.
"We have to be ready but it’s difficult to play a game like that when you have 12 players away for 10 days"
“The players felt a little slow in their reaction,” the manager told Arsenal.com. “They put in fantastic effort and did all they could but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.
“We were playing good football with no legs against a very good team, so it’s difficult. They are organised and professional, they train in the mornings, they have all the facilities available to train and that’s something we have to accept.
“Maybe for us the game came too early. We have to be ready but it’s difficult to play a game like that when you have 12 players away for 10 days, and the young players for another 12 days with international commitments.
“I felt the players were exhausted but even with that we competed against a great team. It was not the performance we wanted but it’s something I have to accept and something we have to improve.”
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