Alessia Russo
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo attributes her prolific goal-scoring form this season to rediscovering her love for the game. The England international is on the verge of her best-ever club campaign, having already netted 15 goals—just one shy of last season’s tally of 16.
“I’m just enjoying my football,” Russo said. “I always play my best football when I’m happy and enjoying the games. At the moment, I just can’t wait for the games to come around.
“I feel happy and valued within the team, which is always nice. I am just trying to get the best out of myself and help however I can to get the best out of others too.”
Despite leading Arsenal’s scoring charts, Russo insists there is still room for improvement.
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“I always try and work on things throughout the season and throughout time in general,” she said. “I still feel like there are lots of things I want to work on and keep improving.
Alessia Russo
Alessia Russo (Image credit: Getty Images)
“Playing as a number nine, I probably didn’t fully understand at first how much work and learning the position requires. But as you get older, you become smarter in how you play. It’s all about tiny moments and fine margins. I’m enjoying myself, I’m enjoying learning, and I want to keep working hard.”
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Alessia Russo is set to make her first UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout stage appearance on Tuesday evening as the Gunners take on Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. The England international, who joined Arsenal in the summer of 2023, missed out on European action last season after the club was eliminated in the preliminary round. Now, Russo and her teammates are determined to seize the opportunity.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Madrid, Russo expressed her excitement ahead of the high-stakes clash.
“I’m really excited. I was just saying to Renee it’s my first quarter-final in the Champions League, so I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “The squad’s in a good place. We had a positive result on Friday, and we’ve spent a lot of time together this week, traveling and playing games. But we’re in a good place as a team.”
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