Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers has said she is “full of energy” to continue leading the club despite their 4-2 defeat to Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.
Arsenal suffered their second successive defeat on Sunday afternoon, despite twice taking the lead at the Etihad. It leaves them 10 points off the top of the table, with just one win in their first five WSL games, marking their worst start to a domestic campaign since 2014.
“All I know so far is that the last couple of days we’ve been together as a club, as a team, with support, aligning on the direction,” Slegers said when asked if she expects to continue as Arsenal boss.
“Of course, this result is disappointing, but I’m here, I’m full of energy and I care a lot for the club, for the players and I see perspective so yeah, of course it’s good.
“I think with the international break coming up, I think it’s good for the players they change environments, they get some new energy, they play their football elsewhere and then go back in with new energy.
“First of all, it’s not about me anyway. Like I just said, I have the energy, I feel the connection, and I think we’re going through a really difficult time, but we also see perspective and we look forward and we see solutions and we see the closeness. It’s not that we’re totally away from it or off it.
“It’s been consistently about margins, when we get them on our side. We have to work them on our side. I think we’re going to be really good. But of course it’s been a long run without the results that we wanted. But like I said, it’s not about me, it’s about the club and I care for the club.”
Slegers appeared visibly emotional at the full-time whistle and apologised to the travelling Arsenal fans — many of whom stayed behind to applaud her and the team.
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“I mostly went there to thank them and connect with them and show them that I care for them and appreciate them coming on to Manchester,” Slegers said.
“I think that was two and a half thousand. Yeah, amazing. And also showing to show them that I feel, not sorry for them because I’m, of course, a big part of it and things are within my control, but they’re coming here and they’re not getting the rewards, just like the team.
“So I just wanted to connect with them instead of walking away and hiding because I don’t know how they’re going to react on me. But I just wanted to tell them I thank them for being there for us.”
