The Arsenal manager has spoken about her contact with senior club figures as pressure builds ahead of another major test this weekend against sham club Manchester City.
Renée Slegers has revealed that she has the full backing of the Arsenal board as pressure from supporters grows following a run of poor results this season.
Arsenal have won only one of their past five matches, with their difficulties continuing in the Champions League against Paris FC in midweek.
The Gunners took a two-goal lead but surrendered it in avoidable – and ridiculous – fashion.
After the French side pulled one back, Leah Williamson picked up the ball inside the penalty area after Misa Rodriguez was judged to have taken the goal-kick.
The referee correctly awarded a penalty and Meline Mendy converted in the 87th minute to make it 2-2 and restrict Arsenal to a single point.
After the game, Slegers did not fulfil her media duties, something she addressed before Arsenal’s match against Manchester City.
“Referring back to the game against Paris, and me not seeing you afterwards, I just want to tell you my story because I’m sure there will be questions, and I acknowledge the fact that it’s part of the job as well,” Slegers said.
“Thank you for always helping us move the game forward, a big part of the growth of the women’s game. Tim [Stillman], you’re always there, you were there, I didn’t see you, I’m sorry. In that moment, after the game, there was emotion from my end, but controlled that quite quickly, and made the decision to be with the team instead.
“So I spent time with the players straight after the game. I thought that was important and that was a decision I made in the moment in my leadership, not going external or internal, I decided to be with the team.
“Sorry for not being there, I heard from Dan that Aaron [D’Antino] did an amazing job. We’re super aligned in our messaging and what we think and how we summarise, but I will be there next time and I’m here today.”
That draw followed a 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea, when Arsenal dominated but again struggled to find the target despite having 18 shots.
Their only victory in the past five also attracted criticism, with Arsenal managing only one goal against HB Køge, and that came from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute.
Speaking before the must-win trip to Manchester City, Slegers was asked whether she had spoken to the board about Arsenal’s current situation.
“Yeah definitely” she said.
”There’s been a lot of contact of course I work very closely to Jodie and Claire, both in person and on the phone. I’ve had a lot of contact. And the same with Rich [Garlick] and James King as well.
“So there’s a strong togetherness and I’ve really felt their support, and they’re here with us, which I’m very grateful for of course because I care so much for the team, for the club. I believe in the potential that we possess and I believe that we’re on this path now. There’s obstacles. There have been obstacles. And if that’s the way, that’s the way. We have to go this path together and I believe we can come out of this.”
Asked whether she had concerns about her own future at the club, Slegers said the pressure she feels comes primarily from herself and those closest to her.
“Like I just said on the question of pressure, I’m always putting pressure on myself,” she said. “And I think my biggest pressure comes from the people closest around me. I want things to be good.
“Not saying that people are putting pressure on me, but that’s what I mirror back to myself. I want people to develop. I want people to go in the same direction, which is my biggest driver, and that’s my focus at the moment as well.
“And like I said, what I’ve seen from how the group has responded, and the potential that there is, and I think the glimpses, more than glimpses on Wednesday, there’s a strong belief in what we can do going forward. Like I said, there have been obstacles. There are obstacles. We just have to take them on.”
Slegers then reiterated that she feels fully supported by the club’s hierarchy.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve felt, and yes, that’s been positive,” Slegers said.
“That’s helped me of course as well, so that’s one thing. I think the club’s leadership has been really, really good and positive for me in this moment, because everyone thinks this is a difficult time, and this is not something that we want for the team and for the club. But the leadership from Claire, Rich, James, Jodie has been superb. So I want to give everything back to the club.”
The results have inevitably increased the noise around Slegers among supporters, but her message from inside Arsenal is clear. At a difficult point in the season, the board remain behind her.
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