Jonas Eidevall stated his Arsenal aspect is “allowed to hurt tonight and feel empty, but we are also allowed to feel proud of the performance and the occasion”, following a 3-2 semi-final defeat towards Wolfsburg deep into overtime to finish desires of a spot within the Champions League last.
“We made it to the Champions League semi-final and lost by the tiniest of margins,” stated the Arsenal supervisor. “With all the injuries we have, with all the challenges we have, I am incredibly proud.”
The Gunners had taken an early lead via Stina Blackstenius, who additionally scored within the first leg because the north London aspect got here from two targets all the way down to protected a 2-2 attract Germany, earlier than the previous Arsenal midfielder Jill Roord struck again and Alex Popp put them forward once more. A Jen Beattie header took the sport to overtime however the replace Jule Brand disposed of the centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy and crossed to the previous Manchester City ahead Pauline Bremer to fit in and put Wolfsburg within the last with Barcelona.
“I informed her to stay her head prime. I informed her there is not any want to ask for forgiveness,” Eidevall said of his conversation at the full‑time whistle with Wubben‑Moy, who had provided the assist for Beattie’s goal. “Mistakes happen in football. We win as a team, we lose as a team. We’re there for each other. We learn. It’s inevitable that it happens in football. They also made mistakes and we were close to profiting from that. It’s part of the game. She was absolutely fantastic. We are there for each other both when we have success and when there’s pain.”
Beattie stated the way of the defeat made it “a tough one to take”, including: “I’m still so proud of the girls and everything that we’ve done, given the number of injuries we have [referring to the absence of Beth Mead, Vivianne, Miedema, Caitlin Foord, Kim Little and Leah Williamson], It shows the mentality and that we all stuck together.
“No matter who’s on the pitch, we all have the belief we have the quality to win a game. Of course, we didn’t manage to get over the last hurdle, but I think we have the ultimate respect for our opposition… They gave us such a huge challenge. We know we can compete at the highest level.
Roord said that scoring against her former club was “a in reality just right feeling”, adding: “For me, being in a last may be one thing new, I have not long past that a long way within the Champions League. It’s like a dream.
“I individually used to be tremendous crushed. It used to be this kind of difficult sport. We’re at the back of, we are in entrance. Actually I assumed it used to be going to visit consequences.