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'In spells our play was devastating'

Shelley Kerr
Shelley Kerr

Shelley Kerr spoke to Arsenal.com after she began her tenure as Arsenal Ladies head coach with a 3-1 victory over ASD Torres in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Meadow Park.

on her first game in charge…
We got a victory, so we're absolutely delighted with that. We were disappointed to concede a goal but I think in spells of the game, we showed absolutely fantastic composure and exceptional talent throughout the team.

on what the away goal does to the tie…
They go home with their tails up, because they've got an away goal. But what we need to look at is ourselves and I think we're capable of scoring across there as well.

on an accomplished performance…
I thought they were fantastic. It wasn't an easy game and it's not going to be an easy game in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and I thought the girls were magnificent in their discipline and their organisation. The downside is that we created our own problems, but that's because the players had the will to go and play and be creative. I'll never stop them doing that because I think it's attractive football to watch.

on starting both halves on the front foot…
We were conscious and just told the girls to go for it and be positive from the kick-off. We said the same at half time.

on how happy she is with the balance of the tie…
We wanted a victory and the girls are a bit disappointed to have conceded, but we scored three cracking goals and I think we've shown enough in the game today that it's positive for us going in to the second leg.

on if the performance laid down a marker…
I think in spells some of our play was devastating, but we need to have that for continued periods. That needs to be a pattern for the whole game. You can't switch off for a second, especially at this level.

on Kelly Smith's injury…
I think she's getting seen to with the medical team at this moment in time, but I thought for the first 30 minutes, she was absolutely outstanding.

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