BETH MEAD reckons Renee Slegers has been a “breath of fresh air” for Arsenal ahead of their Champions duel with Juventus tomorrow.
The Gunners star, 29, was speaking before their 5:45pm clash with the Serie A side with Slegers taking charge of the side for the second time in the contest.
The Dutch coach, 35, was handed the responsibility of being Arsenal Women’s interim boss after former gaffer Jonas Eidevall resigned last month.
Before she took charge the Gunners endured a tough start in the WSL this term and their first group stage outing in the Champion League.
Results included a hefty 5-2 loss to Bayern in Munich in Europe and three winless games at the Emirates that preceded Eidevall’s exit.
Since then, the team have gone unbeaten under Slegers, winning three of their last four games across all competitions including a 5-0 trouncing of Brighton in the WSL.
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Mead, who broke the deadlock in that game four nights ago, said: “It’s been a breath of fresh air with Renee and I’ve been enjoying it so far.
“We’ve been working really hard alongside Renee in training.
“We’ve really tried to hone in on the small things that we’re not getting quite right in front of goal at the moment.
“Sometimes those small details can win you games and that’s what we did (on Friday).
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“We’re heading in the right direction and it puts us in good stead for Tuesday night and we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Slegers, who is interim head coach until at least the November international break, guided Arsenal to a 4-1 defeat of Valerenga last month in the Champions League.
The head coach has refused to be drawn on whether she would consider the role on a permanent basis.
Former Manchester City Women’s boss Nick Cushing had been heavily linked with the job last month.
However Cushing, who manages New York City FC, dismissed the speculation and stated he will be with the MLS side in 2025.
Before joining the Gunners’ as their women’s team assistant Slegers was head coach of Rosengard from
She led the side to back-to-back top-flight title wins in Sweden 2021 and 2022.
When asked if she would like to see Slegers remain at Arsenal, Mead added: “In some capacity.
“We love having Renee here and will be happy with whatever she chooses to do.
“We’ve worked with Renee for quite a while now in different roles to the one she’s in now.
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“I think she’s taken to it like a duck to water.
“It’s been easy for us as a group. We know what she gives us and the confidence she gives us.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
