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    Arsenal boss says players’ progress to Women’s Champions League knockouts is the ‘perfect end’ to an intense run

    RENEE SLEGERS described Arsenal reaching the Women’s Champions League’ last eight as the “ultimate end to an intense” block of games. It took her Gunners 89 minutes to break Juventus’s resistance with Lina Hurtig’s strike securing their sixth win in seven matches across all competitions. Arsenal have gone a seven-game unbeaten run since Renee Slegers became interim manager of the WSL sideCredit: GettyLina Hurtig’s first goal in the Women’s Champions League this season secured the Gunners’ place in the contest’s quarter-finalsCredit: AlamyWhile their performance last night at the Emirates was less goal-laden than their 4-0 demolition of the Serie A side last week, the result maintained their unbeaten run under Slegers. The stand-in boss has impressed since taking charge of the side in mid-October following Jonas Eidevall resigning from his role as head coach. Following a mixed start to the season, Arsenal have looked more fluid in attack in three of their last four games with 12 goals scored. During their 5-0 defeat of Brighton on November 8 one fan was spotted holding a placard with the words “In Renee we trust” daubed across it. Read More Football StoriesThe team’s fourth win on the bounce since then has strengthened the case for the Netherlands-born stand-in Arsenal boss to continue in her role. Although the result gave the Gunners what she describes as “breathing space”, she sees the situation as surreal. Of their seven-game unbeaten run, Slegers said: “It’s the ultimate end to a very busy and intense block we have had here. “It is the perfect ending for this block. It means a lot. Most read in Sport”All of the players totally deserve it because of the work they put in. It gives us some breathing space in the last two games as well.”We wouldn’t give ourselves a ten out of ten but we will give ourselves a big fat ‘enough’. “We will never play the perfect game so it won’t be a ten, but we are very happy with what we have done so far.  “I never felt we would get into this situation. “We have done really well but I was part of Jonas (Eidevall’s) staff and there was so much that was built during his time. I don’t want to separate that. “There is so much we are still building on. It’s surreal in so many ways but we are very happy. “Compared to last term with Chelsea the only WSL side in the contest’s knockout phase, all three English clubs competing this season have fared well in the group stage. Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City currently sit top of group D above Barcelona with four wins from four matches including their 2-0 win against the LaLiga Women’s leaders in October.  An efficient 2-1 defeat of Hammarby last night, with City also entering the tournament’s last eight, came courtesy of two goals netted by Khadija Shaw.Khadija Shaw struck twice to seal Manchester City’s away win against Hammarby in their fourth Champions League group stage game this termCredit: GettyThe Jamaica striker has been in fine form in Europe for City so far this term netting three times in four Champions League appearances. READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile Chelsea also maintained a hundred per cent win record in the group stages so far The team claimed a quarter-final place by beating Celtic 3-0 on Wednesday ahead of duels with FC Twente and Real Madrid next month.  More

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    Hanna Bennison ready for ‘tough’ Arsenal test and a ‘must-win’ Women Champions League game for Juventus

    HANNA BENNISON has grown accustomed to performing under pressure during her journey to the top of women’s football.Tonight the Juventus ace and her club pals face the tough task of attempting to keep their Champions Leagues hopes alive by avoiding a loss to Arsenal.   Hanna Bennison and her team-mates are currently third in their Women’s Champions League group behind Bayern Munich and ArsenalCredit: GettyJuventus will need to avoid a defeat away at Arsenal should Bayern Munich beat or draw with Valerenga in their group stage gameCredit: GettyArsenal have been fine form under interim boss Renee Slegers winning five and drawing one of their last six games in the WSL and EuropeCredit: GettyIt was four years ago in January that the former Everton ace, then 17, was included on a Uefa list of ten young up and coming players to look out for. Being named by as one of Europe’s promising young players is a fond memory for BennisonIt also made her reflect on the pressure that comes with performing at elite level. The playmaker said: “It was really fun to get their nomination, but then also I think it brought a lot of pressure on me. Read More Football Stories”I felt like I had to show that I’m one of those (top players). “But of course I was really happy to be recognised in that way. “I’ve always been putting pressure on myself ever since I was young because I want to be the best I can be. “I’ve always played with pressure. Most read in Football”At times it got a bit hard but then I took the help I needed, for example, by talking to my family and friends, and that has helped a lot. “You’re always going to feel pressure somehow when you play football. “You need to perform, you want to perform and you want to be the best you can. “I accept that there is going to be pressure. For me it’s about learning how to deal with it.”Since making her senior club football debut at 15 at the start of a three-year stint with Rosengard, Bennison’s journey has included her lifting a top-flight title with them in Sweden.  An August 2021 transfer to Everton, with the forward signing for a club record-breaking six-figure sum, followed her time with the Swedish side.And after three years and 63 Women’s Super League appearances for the Toffees, Bennison sealed a three-year move to Juventus in July. Her switch to the top-flight Italian side came 11 months after helping Sweden battle their to a bronze medal win in last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia. And having been part of Everton teams that finished tenth, sixth and eighth in England’s top tier, Bennison felt she was “ready for something new” with Juve.This includes competing for a Serie A Women’s title and in the Champions League with the Turin club. Before her move the midfielder chatted to her Sweden international team-mate Linda Sembrant who spent three years at Juve prior to joining Bayern Munich this summer.  Bennison adds: “I just got a really good feeling speaking to the head coach and other staff around the club.”I spoke to Linda who was here before. For me, I needed something new and Juventus are interesting because of their style of play.”Winning games, playing in the Champions League and competing at the highest level is important to me.”I felt this is a good environment for me to come to and to hopefully play a lot as well.  “I want to develop and grow with the team and of course we want to win things.”On the domestic front Juventus are currently faring well with the team top of the table. Ahead of their Sunday away clash with Como, Bennison’s side are unbeaten in 10 games and four points off second-placed Fiorentina. Tonight at 8:00pm however they face a battle to keep hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals alive. The team are currently third in Group C and three points behind Arsenal who are second after two losses from their opening three group stage fixtures. They must avoid a loss to Gunners at the Emirates should Bayern Munich beat Valerenga in the other Group C clash taking place this evening. Bennison, whose side lost 4-0 to Arsenal last week, said: “It’s a game we need to win. Juventus will take on Como when they return to Serie A action this SundayCredit: Getty”We will do our very best to deliver a good performance and try to win it, but we know it will be hard. READ MORE SUN STORIES”We let in a lot of goals towards the end of the last game which we’re not happy about. We want to do things differently in this game.”It would mean a lot (to win) and that’s our goal. But it’s going to be tough for sure.” More

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    ‘Time is short for footballers. You want to play in these big games’, says Celtic’s Saoirse Noonan

    HELPING Celtic make Women’s Champions League history by reaching its group stage for the first time has been more than a wow moment for Saoirse Noonan. The midfielder and lifelong fan of the club has viewed this as a chance to prove the team’s doubters wrong. Celtic Women will take on Chelsea tonight at Stamford Bridge following their 2-1 loss to the Blues in their third group stage game.Credit: GettyThe team are currently bottom of Group B after three defeats in the group stageCredit: GettyIn a group featuring Chelsea, Real Madrid and Dutch side FC Twente, the Hoops have been the underdogs. While results have so far not gone their way with Celtic bottom after three defeats, they gave a decent account of themselves last Wednesday against Chelsea. A slick first-half strike from Murphy Agnew at Celtic Park put the Scottish Women’s Premier team in the lead before the Blues battled back to a 2-1 victory. Tonight Noonan’s side face Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge and aim “to put their best foot forward”. Read More Football StoriesThey face a tough challenge with their opponents yet to be beaten in the WSL or Europe this term. The Blues have so far claimed ten wins across the board, including a 2-0 defeat of Manchester City on Saturday in the English top tier. Noonan, who has made three Champions League appearances this term, said: “We have a big run of games.”We treat every game the same regardless of whether we’re playing Chelsea or another teamMost read in Football”These fixtures coming up are huge for us. We’re going to put our best foot forward for the next few and see what happens. “As a footballer your time is short and you want to be enjoying it and playing in these big games. “These are unbelievable occasions and we’re definitely the underdogs, but we believe in ourselves and in our abilities. “It’s 90 minutes so why not go and give it a bash and put everything we have, our heart and soul, into the game and see what we can do?”For Noonan, whose senior club career began at Cork City in 2015, playing Champions League football has been since her days playing for Shelbourne. During a loan move from Durham two years ago she was part of the Shelbourne side that qualified to play in the contest’s Champions Path rounds held in June 2022. But her return from loan to the Women’s Championship side meant she would miss out on playing in the competition that year. Noonan adds: “I actually never got to play in the Champions League with Shelbourne because I left that summer so I was only on the team that qualified for the competition. Playing in the Champions League is one thing. Doing it for a club that you’ve always known growing up is something different.”Battling Chelsea in the elite competition for women’s football clubs in Europe is an experience that Noonan has relished: She said: “Playing a team that you watch weekly, and I’m not afraid to say I watch the Women’s Super League week-in, week-out. “I admire all those girls, how athletic they are, how professional they are and what they’re doing for everyone in the women’s game. “To be playing a part in that sometimes you have to take a step back and say, ‘wow I am there and I am playing against the best in the world’. “We did really well to get this far. No one expected us to get here and no one expects us to win. Hopefully we can prove people wrong.”Celtic etching their names into the history books by reaching the tournament’s group stage in September came two months after Noonan’s switch from Durham. The versatile midfielder joined the club on a permanent three-year deal in July. And she netted twice on her debut against Dundee United on August 10. For the Republic of Ireland international who grew up in a family of Celtic fans, her move was an emotional moment. Noonan adds: “When it was all happening before there were no papers signed, it was like ‘keep it hush hush’. “They were asking, ‘is it definitely happening?’.”Then we all went for dinner and it was on my birthday and I told the family that day. “Everyone, including my granny, were a bit emotional because it meant a lot. Noonan and her team-mates will play Montrose in the SWPL next following their clash with ChelseaCredit: Sportsfile”Football is a tough game and things can go right and wrong. READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’ve had my ups and my downs, it was just a really nice moment for everyone.”I don’t think my uncles have called around my house so much when I’m home to see me just because I play for Celtic.” More

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    Beth Mead says Arsenal are “moving in the right direction” under interim women’s team boss Renee Slegers

    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. Beth Mead says Arsenal work with Renee Slegers on “small details” in the final third has been positiveCredit: GettyThe Gunners are hoping to win their third group stage game when they take on Juventus awayCredit: GettyMead and her team-mates have registered three wins and a draw in the WSL and the Champions since Slegers became interim bossCredit: GettyThe 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. Read More Football StoriesMead, 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).Most read in Football”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.Juventus are good form having won eight of their nine top-flight games in Serie A this seasonCredit: Getty”We’ve worked with Renee for quite a while now in different roles to the one she’s in now.READ MORE SUN STORIES”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.” More

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    Renee Slegers sticks up for Arsenal after fixture clash ‘dilemma’ forces women’s match move from Emirates

    RENEE SLEGERS has defended Arsenal after the club was forced to shift a Women’s Champions League match from the Emirates. Some Gunners fans were left angered by the December duel with Bayern Munich being moved from the stadium due to a fixture clash.Renee Slegers reckons Arsenal have been presented with tough problem due to the clash of club fixtures at the EmiratesCredit: GettyTheir WSL side’s Women’s Champions League game against Bayern Munich is set to be moved due to a rescheduled men’s Carabao Cup fixtureCredit: GettyYesterday the EFL confirmed a Carabao Cup quarter-final game involving Arsenal’s men’s team would be rescheduled for December 18. However the timing of the midweek game coincides with the club’s WSL stars hosting Bayern in the Champions League. Gunners officials have opted to change the venue for the women’s match with the team forced to make way for their men’s side hosting Crystal Palace. This is despite the club committing to hosting all their women’s side’s home games in Europe at the Emirates.Read More Football Stories The Arsenal Supporters Club expressed their disappointment in what they described as a “change in priorities” for the fixture with the date and venue for having been known for weeks. However, Slegers feels Gunners officials are dealing with “a hard dilemma”. The WSL team other home ground Meadow Park is being considered as a possible alternative venue for match.Interim Arsenal boss Slegers whose team hosts Brighton tomorrow night, said:  “It has been a very hard dilemma for the club with two great teams competing in competitions. Most read in Football”What Arsenal have been doing really well is pushing the growth of women’s football for a very long time. “This is a bump in the road but what Arsenal has been doing is very strong.”The Gunners’ battle with Bayern being shunted from the Emirates comes three weeks after the departure of former Arsenal Women’s gaffer Jonas Eidevall. The Sweden-born head coach resigned from his role on October 15 after the team won just one of their opening four WSL games this term. Since Slegers took charge the Gunners have gone unbeaten in three games across all competitions with two wins and a draw. And she insists hers and the team’s focus is on their football. She added: “With what we are doing, you could say we live in a little box with the team and the staff. “For us, obviously Jonas leaving was a change. “But all the other things of what we are doing are not impacted by those external things. “What we need to do is work on our football and group dynamics. “That’s what we do day-in, day-out and that’s where focus is.” Tomorrow night’s WSL duel between the Gunners and Brighton will be the first between the sides this term. The Seagulls have had an impressive start under head coach Dario Vidosic and are four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal.The team, who have Gunners striker Michelle Agyemang on loan for one season, have lost just one of their first six opening games this term. Arsenal could go a point behind third-placed Brighton if they defeat them in the WSL tomorrowCredit: GettyBrighton, who are third, currently occupy one of the WSL’s top three spots for qualification to compete in the Champions League.  READ MORE SUN STORIESOf if their duel could be a big one in terms of the battle to reach next term’s tournament, Slegers adds: “It’s still early in the season, but I think all games are important. “This is going to be an important game for us.” More

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    Arsenal looking for solutions after fixture clash forces move of Women’s Champions League game from Emirates 

    ARSENAL have been forced to shift their Women’s Champions League battle with Bayern Munich from the Emirates due to a rescheduled Carabao Cup game. Fixture clash issues have left the Gunners seeking new alternatives for the December 18 match with the German giants. Meadow Park is being looked at as a potential alternative for Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League clash with BayernCredit: AlamyIn May Arsenal announced plans to host all its Women’s Champions League home games at the Emirates, should the team progress beyond the contest qualifiers.However they are facing a venue dilemma. Earlier today the EFL confirmed December 18 as the chosen date for their men’s team’s League Cup quarters battle with Crystal Palace. This means the club have the dilemma of looking for a new venue for their clash with Germany’s top-flight leaders. Read More Football StoriesSunSport understands officials are looking into solutions including the possibility of using Meadow Park as an alternative. The stadium, which is home to National League South side Boreham Wood FC, does not meet Uefa Infrastructure Regulations for Women’s Champions League group games.  However it is thought the extenuating circumstances of their match being moved from the Emirates could lead to use of the ground being considered. One Gunners fan group expressed dismay at the match being moved from the Emirates. Most read in FootballThe Arsenal Women’s Supporters Trust stated they were “really disappointed by the change in priorities for this game”. In a post published on the social media platform X they wrote: “It’s been set in stone for a while. “Now shifting the date affects so many people, especially travelling and international Gooners who have already booked flights and hotels.”Arsenal will face Brighton in the WSL on Friday 8 DecemberCredit: GettyAside from their European fixtures Arsenal are hosting all their WSL home games at the Emirates this term. Last May the Gunners drew the largest ever crowd to a women’s club match in England. A crowd of 60,063 attended their Champions League semi-final second leg defeat of Wolfsburg. More

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    Jonas Eidevall reflects on ‘hurt’ of Arsenal’s three-game winless run following WSL derby loss to Chelsea

    JONAS EIDEVALL admits Arsenal have had a bad start to their season after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea. The Gunners boss says he aims to focus on the things he ‘can control’ when questioned on whether he feels his job is safe.Jonas Eidevall says Arsenal’s recent results have not helped their “league-winning” ambitions with the team collecting one point from their last WSL gamesCredit: GettyVersatile Blues winger Sandy Baltimore was among Chelsea’s scorers against ArsenalCredit: GettyEidevall has come under pressure from some Arsenal supporters amid three difficult results for his side in the past week. And a couple of defensive blips during set pieces saw his team lose their Saturday afternoon duel with Chelsea, conceding twice during the game’s first 16 minutes. Despite a late Arsenal fightback, goals from Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore were enough to seal a significant away victory for Sonia Bompastor’s Blues. The result led to the Gunners notching back-to-back defeats across all competitions after Bayern Munich trounced them 5-2 in the Champions League four days ago.Arsenal boss Eidevall said: “You need to do your absolute best in every single game. “But there is no point in hiding away from reality in saying it’s a bad start to the season.“It certainly doesn’t help with league-winning ambitions. “But it doesn’t change the perspective that you need to go game-by-game.”Most read in FootballArsenal have netted just two goals in their last three league fixtures with their last win in the top tier occurring away against Leicester City.And the loss to the Blues took their tally of winless results at the Emirates to three so far this season. On if he feels his job is safe, the Gunners chief added: “I gave absolutely everything in preparation for this game. “You can see the players gave absolutely everything on the pitch. “That’s the part you can control as a coach. That’s what you can control and ask for from the players as well.“I fully understand that people are disappointed when we don’t win football matches and we are also really disappointed. “We are really hurting, I’m hurting, the players are hurting. We want to do that better so I fully understand that in that moment.” Ramirez gave the Blues a fourth-minute lead with Arsenal caught out by a corner-kick that ended with a looped overhead strike from the Colombian dropping in behind goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.Baltimore’s header 12 minutes later made it a tough start for the hosts before they battled back with Caitlin Foord firing in an angled goal near halftime. The hosts upped the ante in attack in the second half with Chelsea spending large parts of the game’s closing stages defending. But they held out to claim maximum points with USA chief and ex-Blues boss Emma Hayes, and Arsenal football director Edu, among the guests watching from the stands. The result led to Bompastor registering her first win in the WSL against the Gunners leapfrogging Manchester City to go top before the Cityzens’ trip to Liverpool on Sunday.  Sonia Bompastor says she wants to encourage her team to hate conceding after they kept a third successive clean sheet in the WSL this termCredit: GettyThe Blues boss said: “I want my team to be able to hate conceding goals and I think this is what they showed with their mentality READ MORE SUN STORIES“When you play a game away and the team is doing good and you can hear your fans cheering for the team and supporting you, it’s so powerful. “I’m so proud of them and so happy for them.” More

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    Lauren Hemp ready for ‘tough tasks ahead’ after Manchester City’s ‘statement’ win against Barcelona

    LAUREN HEMP insists Manchester City have made a statement with their gritty 2-0 win against Barcelona in the Champions League.  The City ace praised defender Naomi Layzell’s goalscoring display during the defeat of the contest’s winners before their return to WSL action on Sunday.Lauren Hemp and her team-mates will aim to maintain their unbeaten run in the WSL as well as Europe when they visit Liverpool nextCredit: AlamyCity summer signing Naomi Layzell impressed during the team’s 2-0 win against Barcelona playing out of position as a full-backCredit: GettySpain’s top-flight leaders, who Cityzens boss Gareth Taylor described as the best side in the world, fell to their first loss in the tournament’s group stage on Wednesday.A prodded finish from Layzell, her first in a Man City shirt and in the contest, gave Taylor’s side the lead in the first half.And that opener, assisted by Vivianne Miedema’s flicked header, was followed by Khadija Shaw rounding Barca goalkeeper Cata Coll late in the game to slot home to secure the points.The result saw the three-time Champions League winners beaten for the first time ever in the competitions group stage and for the first time this season. Read More Football Stories And Hemp and her team-mates maintained their unbeaten run across all contests before their WSL clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.Hemp said: “Hopefully that puts a statement out on a good start in the group stages.”It was a great win. I thought in the first half, we dominated, possession. “And we created a lot of chances and in the second half, but it looked a bit different.Most read in Football“I felt like we defended so well, put our bodies on the line. “We’ve still got to play them again. It’s going to be a tough task going to their place.”City, who take on Austrian team SKN St Polten in the tournament next Wednesday, handed a group stage debut to centre-back Layzell.The England Under-23s central defender, signed from Bristol City in August for a record fee, played as a full-back in the Joie Stadium duel. The Wednesday night game was the defender’s first time playing in the tournament’s group stage.  It also came almost five years on from Layzell making her debut appearance in the WSL for the Robins against the club she would eventually join this summer. And the player, who went off injured after appearing to her roll her ankle, rewarded boss Taylor’s faith by helping her club shut out some of the most lethal attacking talents in EuropeThese included Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas and Barca striker Ewa Pajor. Hemp added: “She’s done so well since she got here. I’m proud of her.”Not only did she score, but she defended so well, kept the ball most of the time and topped it off with a goal which was amazing and we’re all so happy for her.”Man City will take on Austria’s top-flight leaders SKN St. Polten in their second Champions League group stage game on October 10Credit: AlamyChelsea narrowly defeating Real Madrid in their group stage opener one night before Man City’s victory, made it good week for English clubs going up against two of the best sides in Spain’s top tier.READ MORE SUN STORIESOn her side’s chances of going all the way in the contest, Hemp said: “Every game is going to be different.   “We know there are so many tough tasks ahead of us. We’re just going to take it one game at a time. More