Renee Slegers urged her Arsenal gamers to point out “braveness” of their Champions League ultimate towards Barcelona as they intention to dethrone the title holders on Saturday.
Arsenal tackle the Blaugrana on the Estadio Jose Alvalade hoping to raise the crown for the second time of their historical past, having beforehand executed so again in 2006-07.
However they face a stern take a look at towards Barca, who’re showing of their sixth Champions League ultimate, and fifth in a row, with solely Lyon (11) having taken half in additional.
This would be the fifth assembly between the 2 sides within the competitors, with the Gunners successful each legs of their spherical of 32 tie in 2012-13, successful 7-0 on mixture.
Barca received each group stage matches within the 2021-22 marketing campaign, although Arsenal have a superb file towards Spanish opposition within the competitors, progressing from all 4 of their knockout stage ties towards such groups.
However Pere Romeu’s facet are a now totally different proposition, with Barca main the important thing attacking areas within the competitors this season, averaging essentially the most objectives (4.4), photographs (23.1), photographs on the right track (9.9) and anticipated objectives (xG) per recreation (2.9), in addition to having the very best conversion charge (19.1%).
Opta’s supercomputer predicts a fourth Champions League title in 5 years for Barca, handing them a 56.5% win chance to Arsenal’s 21.7%.
And whereas the chances could also be stacked towards her workforce, Slegers believes her gamers have what it takes to get the job executed towards their star-studded opponents.
“We wish to present braveness tomorrow. We respect Barca as a workforce. They’re a extremely good soccer workforce, so we’re humble, however we’re right here to win,” Slegers instructed reporters.
“We have now to search out methods to win, and I’m assured that the momentum of the sport will shift. It’s necessary that we take care of each second very well.
“We want braveness and self-discipline, and we should be switched on. If we do all these issues effectively, we will carry out effectively. We imagine in our skill tomorrow.”
1 – Arsenal’s Renée Slegers is aiming to turn out to be the primary Dutch supervisor to win the @UWCL and third total the win both the boys’s (since 1992-93) or ladies’s competitors after Louis Van Gaal (1995 with Ajax) and Frank Rijkaard (2006 with Barcelona). Hyperlinks-Rechts. #UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/3QhQPdJCp5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) Could 23, 2025
Slegers is aiming to turn out to be the primary Dutch supervisor to win the Girls’s Champions League, and third total throughout the boys’s or ladies’s competitors, after Louis van Gaal (1995 with Ajax) and Frank Rijkaard (2006 with Barcelona).
The Gunners have proven their resilience in reaching the showpiece match, battling from the brink within the latter rounds of the competitors.
Certainly, Arsenal grew to become the primary workforce ever to achieve the ultimate of the competitors regardless of shedding the primary leg of each their quarter-final (vs Actual Madrid) and semi-final (vs Lyon) ties.
And Alessia Russo echoed Slegers’ sentiments, saying: “We wish to present braveness. We respect Barca as a workforce. They’re a extremely good soccer workforce, however we’re right here to win.
“We have now to search out methods to win, and I’m assured that, if we deal with all conditions effectively and keep centered, we will carry out effectively.
A lot has been made in regards to the lack of expertise inside Arsenal’s squad forward of the ultimate.
Certainly, solely Mariona Caldentey has ever featured in a ultimate of the Champions League, taking part in in 5 for Barca between 2019 and 2024.
The Barcelona squad, in the meantime, have made 48 collective appearances in finals.
1 – Mariona Caldentey is the one present Arsenal participant to have ever featured in a ultimate of the @UWCL, taking part in in 5 for Barcelona between 2019 and 2024. The Barcelona squad in the meantime have made 48 collective appearances in finals. Underdogs. #UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/XqNPDRu7EY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) Could 23, 2025