Alessia Russo (centre) celebrates with her teammates after Arsenal complete a remarkable comeback against Real Madrid.Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Renée Slegers praised her players for turning theory into action after Arsenal overturned a two-goal first-leg defeat by Real Madrid with a 3-0 win in north London to send the Gunners into the Champions League semi-finals.
“The result is a credit to everyone, staff and players,” the Arsenal manager said. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to prepare for this game. You can prepare everything in theory but to actually do it and execute it in this moment where you’re under so much pressure I think is so strong of the girls and is something we take with us.”
Related:Clinical Russo leads Arsenal to epic comeback victory against Real Madrid
Three goals in 13 minutes shortly after the break confirmed the win, two from a rampant Alessia Russo and one from the former Barcelona midfielder Mariona Caldentey.
“You have to hold your hands up when the opponent is better,” the Real Madrid manager, Alberto Toril, said. “We needed to get to this point fresher, stronger and better prepared. I think we’re the team in Europe that has played the most matches.”
In the first leg Arsenal had had to contend with the rain-soaked Estadio Alfredo Di Stefáno, while at the Emirates Stadium they could move the ball and play their way, roared on by more than 20,000 fans. “Football is played on grass,” Slegers quipped when asked if the quality of the pitch made a difference.
On the impact of the crowd and how much of an advantage the Arsenal faithful bring, she said: “It’s the synergy we try to create. We have a responsibility to deliver a product that they want to be a part of and we need to create that energy and intensity and then they will give something back to us and that’s what happened tonight.”
In the semi-finals Arsenal will play the eight-time European champions Lyon, who are led by their former manager Joe Montemurro. “They’re a top team, they’ve been at the top for a long time in Europe,” Slegers said.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge but we don’t shy away from a challenge, we look forward to it.”