“Beautiful French,” Renée Slegers smiled to the translator sat to her right in Lyon’s vast media room, offering a warm handshake after her press conference came to an end.

Slegers had listened intently to every translation of her answers, perhaps looking to improve on her already notable array of languages. Many managers would have switched off, reflected on the glory of thumping Lyon in their own back yard to reach the Champions League final. But Renée Slegers is no normal manager.

‘You became permanent manager in January, and in May, you’ll become the second head coach to lead Arsenal Women in a European final,’ I put to Slegers post-match. A remarkable feat in my eyes, and most others. 

Not so much for her, it turned out.

“No, I don’t think about it in that way,” the ever-humble Slegers replied. “I am so proud of the whole team, I am so happy we achieved this. It’s a team performance and I don’t take myself out of what the team is doing, I am on the team. 

“This is of course the big games and the final stages the last couple of months, but there was so much work we had to do before, we had to qualify for the Champions League early in the season, but then also all the work the club has done over many years to get us into this position has been so good as an organisation to be able to compete on this level.”

Eighteen years separate Arsenal’s maiden European glory over Umea in 2007 and next month’s final against Barcelona, and the Gunners’ path to this final is simply remarkable. 

They are the first team to play all 14 games in the Champions League to reach the final, having had to play four qualifiers to even reach the group stage. Arsenal’s second qualifying round saw the Gunners lose away to BK Häcken, their first group game a 5-2 defeat in Munich, a significantly large nail in Jonas Eidevall’s coffin.

Arsenal don’t make things easy for themselves. Landing on supposedly the easier side of the draw, the Gunners lost 2-0 on a mud bath in Madrid, before pulling off a comeback so special it was deemed inspirational by Mikel Arteta. If you enjoyed that Mikel, have a watch of what went down on Sunday evening before you take on PSG tomorrow.

And then, another comeback. A relatively even first leg at the Emirates saw Lyon’s quality give them a 2-1 lead. Joe Montemurro’s side had conceded three goals, Mariona’s penalty included, in their entire Champions League campaign coming into the second leg. You know the rest. “I’m a little bit perplexed, a little bit not sure. There’s a lot of confusion at the moment,” said the former Arsenal boss when asked to sum up his emotions. 

Confusion at his tactics from the French media and Lyon’s fans will continue long after this season comes to an end, with Ada Hegerberg brought in upfront to change a dynamic, pacy front three that had caused so many problems a week ago.

Lyon’s defensive errors, with Arsenal’s pressing that has become so impressive under Slegers, were unheard of for the all-time leading Champions League winners. 

Christiane Endler made a mess of an early corner as Arsenal leveled on aggregate inside five minutes. Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord kept their cool to capitalise on further mistakes in the second half, and Daphne van Domselaar, however fit she really was, got in the way of everything. Not one Arsenal player gave anything less than their all on a warm French evening. 

Not to forget, Mariona Caldentey’s wonder goal. The mark of a serial trophy winner, a serial Champions League winner, and to do it at such a crucial time in the game, in first half stoppage time. A goal worthy of winning any game, from a player Arsenal picked up for free.

And then to Kim Little, earmarked by Leah Williamson and her Arsenal teammates for praise and recognition after full-time. So many years of loyal, understated service, now rewarded by a Champions League final. Little will lead her side out in Lisbon on Saturday, May 24, for a shot at European glory. 

Slegers: "It was such a special moment for Kim. I think Leah Williamson said it in the huddle afterwards, if you look at Kim going to the final of the Champions League- it was really highlighted by the players afterwards."

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) April 27, 2025

In the commentary box down to my right, a tear was in the eye of her former Scotland and Arsenal teammate Jen Beattie, who’s goal against Wolfsburg had put a makeshift team, depleted by injuries to so many key players, Little included, so close to the 2022/23 final.

Manu Zinsberger, another loyal Arsenal servant, was visibly emotional. Leah Williamson sat on the side of the pitch, making a phone call in almost disbelief. Katie McCabe and Chloe Kelly jumped into each other’s arms near the mixed zone as the celebrations started. 

Lyon had booked a DJ for after the match, obviously hoping for celebrations, and his techno beats rang out to an empty stadium. Arsenal have scored nine goals now in their last trips to Lyon. It’s simply remarkable.

Arsenal know how to win against the odds, and they’ll have to do so again against Barcelona. But for those at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday evening, this was a night to remember for many years to come.

Arsenal Women are in the Champions League final.