flag
back Back
'We wasted this potential opportunity!' - Leah Williamson determined for Arsenal to overcome Real Madrid deficit in Champions League following pitch debacle in away leg
Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC  - Barclays Women's Super League

Leah Williamson believes Arsenal can progress in the Women's Champions League despite losing the first leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid.

  • Arsenal lost 2-0 to Madrid in Spain
  • Must turn it around in London to stay in UWCL
  • Lionesses star determined to get job done

WHAT HAPPENED?

The north London side suffered a 2-0 loss on an awful pitch in the Spanish capital last week, leaving them on the verge of crashing out heading into Wednesday's return fixture.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Real Madrid CF v Arsenal FC - UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg

The Gunners were fancied to get the better of Madrid over the two legs, but Williamson admits that they left last week's game feeling they had missed an opportunity. Having seen her team trounce Liverpool 4-0 in the Women's Super League days afterwards, though, the defender still believes her side have the quality to turn the tie around at the Emirates Stadium.

WHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

"I think there was a general feeling that we wasted this potential opportunity. Two teams playing on the same pitch, the pitch wasn’t the standard that it needed to be, but we both played on it," she told reporters. "I think that anger is more frustration with ourselves, because we know what we can do. We know we have more, and that’s frightening for other teams because I think in that game, we were still competitive. We just need to score goals, and that’s what it comes down to, and we need to stop them. We were frustrated, but more so with ourselves than anything else. If we played a perfect game last weekend, and we got beat by a perfect game from the other team, that can sometimes be football. But that wasn’t the case, so it’s about us taking individual responsibility first and foremost, and making sure that everybody stays present in that."

Looking ahead to this week's clash, she said: "I’ll play my role, I’ll play my part. I think the experience of overturning the last quarter-final against Bayern, I think that comes in handy for anybody that played in that game. That was a great memory. Good things happen in football, bad things happen in football. When the good things happen, you keep them in your pocketed just as much as the bad, you call on them when you need them. So, I think anybody that was involved in that game will take confidence from that, knowing that we know how to do it in almost an identical situation."

WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Real Madrid CF v Arsenal FC - UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg

Renee Slegers' team will have to put in a stellar performance to overpower their Champions League foes. After that game, they take on Crustal Palace in the Women's Super League on Sunday.

You may like

James starts, Lavia dilemma, Jackson replaced - Chelsea predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest

football.london3 hours ago

Beto reveals blunt Seamus Coleman talks that prompted major Everton change - 'I was angry'

liverpoolecho.co.uk4 hours ago

Pep Guardiola threatens to park the bus against Fulham as Man City consider big gamble

express.co.uk3 hours ago

Man City given unanimous Champions League verdict but warned it could be 'bad news'

manchestereveningnews.co.ukan hour ago

Graeme Shinnie on captaining two Scottish Cup winning teams

www-tmp.thenational.scot10 hours ago

Premier League prize money: Millions on line this weekend

cityam.com24 minutes ago

Cristiano Ronaldo at centre of Emi Martinez tactics after brutal jibe to Bruno Fernandes

express.co.uk2 hours ago