Renée Slegers has held her press conference ahead of our women's squad's return against Bristol City
Our interim head coach fielded questions about team news, the January transfer window, and our club's history in the FA Cup.
Here is everything she had to say:
on latest updates on the head coach decision…
Well, the club is in the process. They're very detailed about it. We trust them, but again, putting the focus back onto the team, because I think that's what made us so strong the last couple of months, how the team has been stepping up. We're very comfortable with what we've been doing here in the building. I understand from the outside, you don't see it, you don't get to experience it every day, but there's incredible hard work behind the scenes from both players and staff, and we’ve started doing that again after the break. The girls came back really well, very fresh, mentally and physically refreshed. They look really good and we're still in that process, and we focus on the here and now and Bristol on Sunday.
on when the process may come to an end…
That’s for the club to answer that question. I have big trust that they will do this very detailed, and then they are very keen to make a very good decision, so I trust the club on this.
on if Renée has any input on the decision…
I think that's important, but there are a lot of people working behind the scenes as well, with the technical committee, the recruitment department, and Clare, obviously. And there's a direction that the club wants to go in, so it's not only dependent on the head coach. There are many people involved, but I want to say that we're very happy with the player group that we have at the moment as well.
on Renée's interest in the position…
If we want the players to be in good hands, we want the right person for the club and the players to drive this forward, but I'm very happy with what we've achieved so far. But again, the collective responsibility has been key to our successes lately. So, it's not dependent on one person, what’s given us this much success is how the players have been stepping up, and also other staff. So very happy with that, with how everything has been.
on players returning from a long winter break…
You want to find the right balance of players getting enough time to recover, but don't break them down too much. So, you need more time to build them up again. But I think we try to find the exact right balance and getting enough preparation time for the cup and the league to start again. So, I think it looks like we got it quite right, and we try to individualise as well with a couple of players. But at the moment, it looks quite good.
on the effects of having a month off during the winter break...
If you see how the women's game is growing and how the summers look, in every three out of four years, there's a tournament going on in the women's game as well, so the players also need recovery time. So, I think what we are bringing to the women's market is a very good product, and it's always finding the balance of what can we bring, and what do we want to mean for the world and for society and inspiration but also taking care of the players' health. So, I think everyone is always different and the instances are trying to find that right balance.
on the January transfer window and if there are any updates…
Like I said before, we're very happy with the players in the building. I think they've been performing well, and everyone is trying to push and get the best out of themselves and out of each other. So I think we're in a really good place with the squad at the moment, with the players that are here. So, very happy with that, but I think a big club like us, we're always looking to take the next step and are always active, but at the moment, there will be very little movement. We're very happy with the players in the building.
on the latest team updates…
I can give some updates. Lia Walti is in full training, so she's in contention for Sunday. Lina Hurtig and Emily Fox, they've come back later from their breaks. So that's part of the individual plans for different players. Katherine Kuhl is also in the building training with us.
on our recently signed Young Gunners and their future plans…
We are very happy with the young players that are coming through at Arsenal and for every individual, we’re trying to look at their best interests to keep on developing. For some that will be alone, and for others, it will be staying with us, depending on what position where they're at in their development. So, we're looking at it and looking at the best solutions to give the best opportunities to develop for our young, talented players.
on the impact of No More Red…
I think football is so powerful. Us as a club, we mean so much to society. I’m really proud that I’m part of this and we’re doing this and hopefully, it makes an impact.
on rotating the squad…
It’s a competitive game on Sunday and we have a competitive game next Sunday as well so we need to set up the best team possible to win those games but we have a big belief in the full squad. We have, I think, one of the biggest squads with the most depth. We have all options, so we going to look at what’s best for the team, what’s best for every individual, how they coming back, what do we need against Bristol, what do we need in the upcoming games? So, we’re going to play a team that wants to win the game.
on what she’s looking forward to most in 2025…
I’m really curious to see how the squad is going to take the next step because I think there are so many positive things going on, on an individual and a collective level and obviously the challenge is can we keep doing this over time and can we keep on developing and fine-tuning different things, challenge ourselves even more and can we find the next level in everything we do so I’m really excited and curious about what does that next level look like for us as a team.
on what she’s learned over the last 11 games…
I think everywhere in life, wherever you go, I think I’m learning a lot but I also see myself learning a lot outside the football context, which gives me new perspectives which I can then bring back again. So, learning is everywhere for me.
on what it would mean to win the FA Cup after nine years…
So we live day to day and want to be in the moment, and perform our best every day in everything we do. But obviously, we want that to lead to trophies. That’s what the club wants, that’s what the players want, that’s what we want, so that’s the ultimate goal for us. So we try to be in a process and try to impact everything every day to be at that next level and be as good as we can for every game so yes, definitely, that is one of the goals.
on facing Bristol City…
I think it’s going to be an interesting game. It’s going to be challenging in the way that it’s our first game back after the break. Bristol City is, like you say, is a top team in the Championship we definitely shouldn’t think this is going to be an easy one. What we’re going to ask from the girls is to be on their toes in this game against this opposition.
on the permanent head coach role…
The club is in this process. It’s happening behind the scenes. As soon as they have something to present, it will be presented but I won’t be the one presenting this.
on the club’s search for a new head coach…
Well, to the fans, everything that’s happening, the work the players and staff are putting in, I think it’s been amazing and they’re doing a great job. So trust the staff and the players in the background that we’re really pushing and developing and trying to get the best out of ourselves. Even though there’s no permanent head coach. I think the processes that are happening here, they’re on a very high level.
on the good mood in the player group…
It's like I said. I love being here. I love working with the players. I'm happy that the players are in a good place as well. I think we're doing a lot of great things at the moment and I want to bring the credit back to them again, that they stepped up. They've been changing things. And I think the key to success moving forward is that they keep on doing that. So I don't think this individual role is going to make the big impact. The biggest impact that has been made up until now is what the players have been doing.
on the wait to confirm a permanent head coach…
It's mostly in [the press conference], and I understand on the outside, you don't have insight into what's happening on the inside. So here is when I get confronted with it, but when we're working on the inside, we're in a really good place and it's never mentioned.
on making sure to regain momentum after the winter break…
So, what we try to do is to hit our levels as fast as we can. So we are very demanding in meetings and training. We definitely want to start with that foundation, and then we also do not lose the motivation and that momentum. We also set goals for the next level for us to reach and I think the players have been responding really well to that. So that's all the work we try to do in the background.
on what collective responsibility looks like at Arsenal…
Specifically in meetings and in training, we give a platform to the players. It’s also about our psychology and our leadership as a staff towards the players to be able to facilitate that. So give them the trust, give them the framework, give them the platform to be able to do that.
I think the players have been responding really well to that, so we want to support them, and we give them the trust to be part of leading the process. I think what they've been doing well in their mindset, is they go to themselves, so they go to everything they can control, instead of things that are outside their control and outside of themselves. So I think that's been that's been great. A great mindset for the players.
on whether this has been emphasised more since she’s been in interim charge…
I think Leah said it as well: when this big change happens and you lose your official leader, then you get the opportunity as a collective to step up. And they've done that. I think the key for this group moving forward is that even though there's going to be a permanent, official leader for the team, they have to keep on doing that, because that's the key to success for them.
on the importance of the FA Cup…
We have clear objectives for this block and for the second half of the season, and talking to the players, listening to the players, they take big pride in all prizes that we can win. Those four at the moment, and we want to go for all four of them. And that’s really clear when you listen to the players.
on whether she still keeps in contact with Jonas Eidevall…
I got to know Jonas in Sweden when I was coaching there and he was coaching there. We coached the same club: he was the first-team coach and I was the reserve coach back then. So we go far back, and I think I've learned a lot from him, and I'm also very grateful for the opportunities he has given me. He’s put a lot of trust in me in different roles and in different environments where we've worked together. So I have huge respect for Jonas. And yes, we're still in touch. He doesn't live here anymore, but we went for dinner and we caught up, but now it's mostly on the phone. But we're still in touch, and I'm very happy and excited for him for the San Diego job.
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