By Rachel Gore (18/04/2025)
Above: Mariona Caldentey celebrates. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Prior to tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final, Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and manager Renee Slegers spoke on the fitness of Kelly and Russo, the squad’s hunger for a title and their “respect” for Lyon.
Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly are “fully available” again and will feature in tomorrow’s match day squad. Slegers said that “both players have been working really hard with the medical team to get to this point” and stated that “they’re available for a lot of minutes tomorrow”.
On the other hand, Daphne Van Domselaar is still out with injury, alongside Lotte Wubben Moy. Van Domselaar is “progressing really well” and staff are waiting to “see when she can be available”.
Having forwards Russo and Kelly included in tomorrow’s squad will be vital as the team hope to utilise their home advantage to get the best possible result. With 40,000 tickets having been sold, an enormous crowd is expected at the Emirates and Slegers’ team are “going to take the opportunity by the throat” as they “know that tomorrow is [their] chance”.
Providing a player’s perspective on the upcoming fixtures, Mariona stated that the team are ready for this first game “at home with [their] fans”. Slegers reiterated this point when she said: “we’re playing at the Emirates, and with the hunger and belief we have at the moment, we’re going to go and play the game the best we can”.
This game will have small margins as “it’s two top teams playing against each other”. Slegers understands the “challenge” that Arsenal will face in Lyon who have been in this position many times before and she has “huge respect” for their history, players, and staff. Mariona reiterated the respect that the team have for their opponents when she described their players as “dangerous” and having “such talent”.
As Slegers said, “football’s unpredictable” but Arsenal is hoping to “start fast and go for it at the Emirates” with the knowledge that at the end of tomorrow’s match it is only half time so, no matter the result, there will still be “a lot of work to do in Lyon”.
This semi-final, where Arsenal plays at home in the first leg, “is a different scenario” to the one they faced in the quarter-finals when they clashed with Real Madrid at home in the second leg. Arsenal were defeated in the first leg, which was played in Spain, but forced their way back into the competition during the second leg, finishing the semi-finals with a 3-2 win on aggregate.
This is an example of how “the team keeps on proving time after time what [they’re] capable of”. They were “so happy” to beat Real Madrid and their game at home “was a big moment” as they maintained “composure under pressure” and played the game at “a very high level”.
Like the women’s side have done, Arsenal’s men’s team have reached the Champions League semi-finals after beating Real Madrid in the quarter finals. Slegers is “very happy for the men’s team” and the whole club is excited as it is the first time in its history that both the men’s and women’s team have reached the Champions League semi-finals. Arsenal men played their first quarter final leg at home and Slegers found the way that they went about the two legs “inspirational”.
Arsenal women are also gaining inspiration from the footballers within their own squad; Mariona herself has won the Champions League three times, and her experience is something that Slegers is “learning a lot from”. The manager was keen to compliment Mariona who smiled as she was described as a someone who wants to win everything that she does.
After Arsenal beat Leicester City on Tuesday, Slegers also praised Mariona, stating that she makes everyone around her play better. The Spanish attacker makes frequent contact with the ball, something which she “loves” to do. She finds it “easy” to play with the Arsenal team stating that she is “ready for whatever the team and the coach ask” of her.
Her exceptional play has been recognised beyond Arsenal; just before she spoke to the media, it was announced that she’d been named the PFA WSL Fans’ Player of the Month for March. Mariona said: “It’s amazing when you feel everyone recognises your work and your effort”. It’s evident that during her first season at Arsenal Mariona is making her mark on the club which she described as feeling “like home from the first day”.
Mariona is certainly hoping to have a further impact on her club during tomorrow’s match which she says, “will be a tight game”. She said: “The team has the mentality of winning, I think that’s a bit contagious as well”, adding that “everyone is hungry for a title”. Mariona and her teammates are three games away from winning the Champions League. The four “best teams in Europe” are left and Arsenal are one of them, but they still “want more”.
Arsenal is not the only English side remaining in the Champions League, Chelsea are set to face Barcelona in the semi-finals, with their first leg being played away on Sunday. Mariona hopes that “one English team will be in the final” and really hopes that that team will be her own.
Getting this far in the Champions League requires more than talent; Mariona highlighted how hard work, fitness and teamwork are crucial. She believes that this is being built at Arsenal.
The importance of these factors is emphasised to young Arsenal players when they train with the first team. Jessie Gale, a young Gunner who is currently dual registered with Watford, was present in today’s training session but will not feature in tomorrow’s squad. Slegers said that Gale “comes and trains” with the first team “once or twice a week” and that they “like to have her with [them]”.
It’s not only the high-level sessions with experienced players that benefit these young footballers, but also the introduction to the Arsenal lifestyle. Slegers said that it is “good for them to get used to the routines of an Arsenal player”.
It’s likely that these young players will be watching tomorrow’s game which kicks off at 12:30pm and can be streamed on TNT Sports and DAZN. Despite the “task” that Arsenal must do tomorrow, Slegers is “excited” and will remind herself “to enjoy the moment”. Mariona will do the same, stating that enjoying the match is a “gift” that players have to give themselves.
Arsenal firmly believe that they “deserve” to be at this stage of the Champions League and “want to go for it” tomorrow at the Emirates.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 