Renee Slegers ‘so proud’ as Arsenal reach Women’s Champions League final

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers savoured a “special moment” after the Gunners reached their first Women’s Champions League final in 18 years following a superb triumph at Lyon.

Slegers’ side, trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg, turned the semi-final around in emphatic fashion at Groupama Stadium as they ruthlessly punished the thoroughly out-of-sorts eight-time winners, beating them 4-1.

The 5-3 aggregate success sets up a showdown next month in Lisbon with holders Barcelona, a second appearance in the final for Arsenal, who won the competition back in 2007 when it was known as the UEFA Women’s Cup.

Slegers – made interim head coach after Jonas Eidevall’s resignation in October, then permanent boss in January – said in quotes on Arsenal’s official website: “Of course, when they (Lyon) scored (to make it 4-1 in the 81st minute)…the scenario goes through your head. What if they score another? What if we let it slip?

“I’m so proud of how we defended that lead. And then when they blow the whistle and I look around and I look up into the stand, I see them (Arsenal fans) and I see the players running on to the pitch. I see everything happening. Staff, all Arsenal people.

“This is the moment and this is what we do it for. It’s such a special moment.

“I’m very happy and, of course, very proud because I think what the club have been doing for so long, investing in women’s football…I think what we get to do now is something that’s been worked on for a long, long time. But, of course, what we’re doing in the moment, what the players are doing at the moment, it’s unbelievable.

“I’m so proud of the team and the work ethic and how they stayed calm because I think that was the biggest key for us today.”

Arsenal, who had bounced back against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals to advance after losing the first leg, were level in the tie in the fifth minute via a Christiane Endler own goal, Mariona Caldentey put them in front with a stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, and they then made the most of Lyon sloppiness after the break as Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord added finishes.

Substitute Melchie Dumornay pulled the late goal back for the hosts but Lyon were unable to save themselves on an utterly miserable occasion for their boss Joe Montemurro against his former employers.

Arsenal captain Kim Little told TNT Sports: “It means a lot, which I think you can tell by the emotion.

“This is an incredible football club and we’ve had numerous games in the Champions League and not quite made it to the final since we won it in 2007, so it’s just really special to get there.

“Just excited and looking forward to that – we all can’t wait to represent this great club in the final.”

Barcelona, winners in three of the last four seasons, progressed to the final by completing an 8-2 aggregate thrashing of Chelsea earlier on Sunday, winning 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Little added: “Barcelona are an incredible team. We’ll be very aware of their strengths, but I believe in this team. When we’re at our best, on our day, I think we can beat anyone.”