Arsenal manager Lenny Sleggers has announced that his key defenders Leah Williamson and Steph Catley will miss the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea. They will be joined on the sidelines by teammates Caitlin Ford and Kyra Cooney-Cross.
This upcoming match marks a historic moment; it will be the first encounter between the two clubs in any league or European competition, as well as the first instance of two teams from the same city clashing in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s Australian players—Catley, Ford, and Cooney-Cross—are unavailable due to scheduling conflicts with the Asia Cup in Australia. They are expected to return to England only on Monday morning.
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Regarding the players’ absence, Sleggers mentioned during a press conference, “They are staying home today. They will participate in a short session and gym work tomorrow, but won’t be available for the match.” Despite this setback, the coach hopes the trio will return for Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash against Tottenham if they can complete training without further complications.
In addition to the absences of Catley and Cooney-Cross, captain Leah Williamson is dealing with a hamstring issue, ruling her out for this critical fixture. Sleggers confirmed, “Leah Williamson won’t be back tomorrow. She’s progressing well, but it’s too early for her to play.” The manager added that they plan to reintegrate Williamson into training before the upcoming international break in April.
Olivia Smith also missed training on Monday, yet Sleggers did not exclude her from participation. The Canadian player is engaged in an individualized training program, which he explained was necessary for short-term management. “We didn’t see Liv on the pitch, but everyone is involved in individual programs,” he remarked.
As this significant match approaches, Sleggers emphasizes that the emotional stakes are high, reflecting the long-standing rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea. He believes that channeling this intensity could work in their favor. “That intensity is one of our strengths. Obviously, it’s a big opportunity, but we know we perform best when facing challenges,” he noted.
With an eye toward maintaining control during the match, Sleggers expressed his goal to remain composed on the sidelines: “If you ask me what my role is, I want to be as controlled and calm as possible throughout the 90 minutes. This approach will help the team make sound decisions while the inherent passion will be there as we face Chelsea in such a pivotal game.”
