Arsenal faces Chelsea: Renee Slegers announces Leah Williamson will miss the first leg
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers has announced that the team will be missing their primary centre-back duo of Leah Williamson and Steph Catley for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Chelsea, with Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross also unavailable.
This matchup marks the first time that these two teams have faced each other in a two-legged format or in a European tournament, and it is notable as the first instance of two clubs from the same city competing in the Champions League.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the Asian Cup in Australia, Arsenal will be without their Australian contingent of Catley, Foord, and Cooney-Cross, who only returned to England on Monday morning.
“They are staying at home today,” Slegers stated during a press conference on Monday. “They will participate in a brief session and some gym work tomorrow, but they will not be available [for the match] tomorrow.”
The trio is expected to be fit for the Women’s Super League [WSL] fixture against Tottenham on Saturday, assuming they complete training without any complications or injuries.
England captain Williamson is also set to miss this important knockout match due to a hamstring issue.
“Leah Williamson will not be ready for tomorrow. She is making good progress, but it is too soon,” Slegers remarked on Monday.
The Dutch coach indicated that the objective is to have Williamson return at some point during this period, prior to the international window in April.
“We just need to be prudent and identify the right moment when her body is fully prepared for a match,” she added.
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Olivia Smith was not present at training on Monday morning; however, Slegers did not dismiss the possibility of her involvement, noting that the Canadian has been following an individual training regimen.
“There is a significant amount of individual management due to the quick turnaround. You didn’t see Liv [Smith] on the pitch, but everyone is on their individual programs,” she explained.
With the significance of the occasion and the historical rivalry between the two teams, Slegers believes that channeling the emotions and intensity of these matches, while maintaining control and composure, will benefit Arsenal.
“I think for us, [the intensity] is one of our advantages. Itβs a significant event, but we know we perform at our best when we are focused on the task. That is one of our team’s major strengths,” she stated.
“We aim to maintain control for as long as possible because we know that enables us to make the best decisions on the field, but there is also passion, which can provide us with that extra edge.
“If you ask about my role, I want to remain as controlled and composed as possible for the entire 90 minutes, as I believe that will assist the team in making sound decisions, and the passion and drive will naturally be present since we are playing in the Champions League quarterfinal against Chelsea.”
