{"id":427724,"date":"2026-05-01T22:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/427724\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T22:53:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:53:10","slug":"mccabes-manager-says-arsenal-must-earn-the-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/427724\/","title":{"rendered":"McCabe’s manager says Arsenal must ‘earn the right’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers stressed this year’s Women\u2019s Champions League semi-final second leg meeting against Lyon is “different” to when the two teams met last season.<\/p>\n

The Gunners claimed a 4-1 second-leg win away to the French outfit on that occasion, having lost 2-1 at home, and the north London side then went on to win the competition with a 1-0 triumph over Barcelona.<\/p>\n

\"Katie
\nKatie McCabe won the Champions League with Arsenal last season<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s edition sees the two teams meet again at the same stage of the competition, but this time Arsenal hold the advantage going into the second leg after Christiane Endler\u2019s own goal and Olivia Smith\u2019s effort helped them come from behind to clinch a 2-1 win at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

Olivia Smith gives Arsenal a precious lead over Lyon in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n

Watch on @rteone<\/a> and @rteplayer<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/KQh6BbLCY7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Both teams had also met in the early stages of this year\u2019s Champions League, with Arsenal falling to a 2-1 defeat in their first game of the league phase.<\/p>\n

However, with a spot in the final at stake going into Saturday\u2019s contest, Slegers insisted the Gunners still have to “earn the right”.<\/p>\n

She told a press conference: “It\u2019s very simple, I think you can\u2019t compare the two occasions. Everything is different this year, the scenario is different as well, last time we were 2-1 down, now we\u2019re 2-1 up, so everything is different.<\/p>\n

“We have to earn the right again from the very start, so I don\u2019t compare the two occasions. Yes we\u2019ve been to the city, yes I recognise this hall and the pitch, that will be there, but we have to start all over again tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

There has been much talk of McCabe’s contract with the club expiring this year and this week English team-mate Leah Williamson signed an extension to stay with the Gunners.<\/p>\n

Slegers said the renewals bring stability, with defender Steph Catley also staying on.<\/p>\n

“It’s very good for players I think, this is the business side, it’s short contracts, there’s no one on a permanent contract and that’s part of it so you have to deal with that in a certain way.<\/p>\n

“But of course it’s good for both club and player to know what the future looks like and where we’re committing together so yes, really happy with all the extensions so far so we’re in the here and now but also really good for the future to have that commitment.”<\/p>\n

This weekend\u2019s other semi-final tie sees Barcelona host Bayern Munich on Sunday.<\/p>\n

They enter the second leg tied at 1-1 after Franziska Kett cancelled out Ewa Pajor\u2019s opener, but Bayern finished with 10 players after their goalscorer was shown a red card with 11 minutes to play meaning she will be suspended for the return fixture.<\/p>\n

Watch Lyon v Arsenal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals on Saturday from 1.30pm on RT\u00c92 and RT\u00c9 Player.<\/p>\n