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Before every home game, Ren\u00e9e Slegers gives her thoughts around the team and our upcoming game in her manager’s notes published in the matchday programme.<\/em><\/p>\n Ahead of our Barclays Women’s Super League match at home to Leicester City, the head coach analyses the ebb and flow of the win over Lyon, and believes it is in our hands to continue building momentum from here to the end of the season.<\/em><\/p>\n Good evening and welcome to Emirates Stadium for our penultimate home game of the season and our return to action in the Barclays WSL against Leicester City.<\/p>\n It was a fantastic day on Sunday, with two excellent teams going up against each other for all they were worth. We expected a tight game, we prepared accordingly, and I was so impressed by how well we put the gameplan into action on the day.<\/p>\n That first half, especially, required problem-solving from all of us. The 11 players on the pitch were in constant communication with each other, and as a staff we had to make sure our plans and tactics were flexible with how the game was unfolding. Our squad are incredibly intelligent and can read the game so well, so there\u2019s a lot of trust in that group to make calls they need to.<\/p>\n Ahead of the game, we wanted to use the power of the Emirates to drive us on and that\u2019s exactly what happened. The supporters matched our energy for 90 minutes \u2013 plus injury time \u2013 and, when we found those moments to press, we felt the crowd with us. That\u2019s how we created momentum in that second half. When you face a team like Lyon, putting pressure on the ball is vital. As the game went on, so did our pressure, and we were able to spend more time in their half. Our team remained calm, kept the belief even when we were a goal behind, and focused on managing Lyon\u2019s threat. The first half of the task is complete, but we\u2019re far from done.<\/p>\n Liv\u2019s performance at the weekend is precisely why we brought her here. She\u2019s able to take all of our theoretical ideas in team meetings and translate them onto the pitch, and it\u2019s brilliant to watch. For her to have all the abilities she has at her age makes the future even more exciting for her and for us. I love the fact that she\u2019s a part of Arsenal.<\/p>\n It was also great to see Leah back with us because she\u2019s such an important figure for us, on and off the pitch. Of course it\u2019s tempting to keep her on the field for the full 90 minutes when it\u2019s a Champions League semi-final, but we have to consider the future. We have enough quality and flexibility in our squad to accommodate easing players back in after injury, so I was happy with the decision we made.<\/p>\n For the second leg we don\u2019t have the same home advantage, so our only option is to carry north London with us. It\u2019s only half time and we won\u2019t ever get ahead of ourselves, but it\u2019s a great score to take with us. We know what we have to do to book our place in Oslo.<\/p>\n Until then, our attention turns back to the league. The squad immediately headed into recovery mode because today\u2019s game is so important. The rhythm of matches every three days is something we\u2019re very used to by now, but that preparation is vital. The schedule has left us with more games in hand than any other team, heading into the final month of the season but all we can control is our performances. We have to turn the pressure into an advantage as we look to build momentum.<\/p>\n Six games in 18 days. We will embrace this moment and give it everything because there won\u2019t be a second chance. We can\u2019t look back, we can\u2019t look too far ahead and we can\u2019t compare ourselves to other teams. All we can focus on is ourselves in the here and now.<\/p>\n That first step starts with Leicester tonight. Let\u2019s enjoy the game together \u2013 and COYG!<\/p>\n