Slegers wins tactical duel with Montemurro
There was jubilation at the final whistle and Renée Slegers joined the celebrations with her players on Sunday. The Arsenal manager had just guided her team to a Champions League final at the first attempt, defeating her former mentor Joe Montemurro in the process. The 36-year-old outmanoeuvred and outsmarted the Lyon manager as they stormed back from a first-leg deficit to win 4-1 and secure a spot in their first European final in 18 years. It exemplified Slegers’s ability to learn quickly in-game and from match to match, while keeping her feet and those of her players firmly on the ground. “We talked about the Arsenal way – what it looks like and why it’s important for us,” she said. “We really look forward to the final, but also straight away when there’s euphoria on the pitch. We are so happy and we need to celebrate these special moments, but we are also very humble and we need to get ready for the next one.” Sophie Downey
