Arsenal Women manager Renee Slegers says she has a lot of respect for Bayern Munich, ahead of the Gunners taking them on in the Champions League this week.

Arsenal Women manager Renee Slegers says she has a lot of respect for Bayern Munich, ahead of the Gunners taking them on in the Champions League this week.

 

 

 

Ahead of their upcoming Champions League fixture, Arsenal Women head coach Renée Slegers emphasised her deep respect for Bayern Munich as a club and as an opponent — but also reiterated that her team believe they can match the best in Europe. The challenge posed by Bayern is one that Slegers views with admiration rather than fear, and one which she expects Arsenal to embrace with belief and realism.

Slegers noted that Bayern’s strengths are obvious: strong individual quality, set-piece threat, and a sustained habit of success in European competition. These are attributes that demand recognition. In her words, “We knew it was going to be a tough game, Bayern Munich is a very good team, as a team, but also the individual qualities that they have and set pieces, obviously they hurt us in the away game.”

Behind this line of thinking lies a key mindset: respect for the opponent’s pedigree but a refusal to shy away from the clash. Slegers has spoken previously about Arsenal’s ambition to go all the way in the Champions League, a goal that requires matching such quality. After Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Bayern in one group game, she reflected, “We need to have that belief, and we have that belief, especially after today.”

The game against Bayern is more than just a tactical battle — it is a benchmark. For Slegers and her squad it is an opportunity to test themselves, to ‘play their game’ against a heavyweight, to demonstrate mental strength, composure and adaptability. “The girls were very composed today … I am happy we found a way to win when the situation doesn’t allow us to play our game and we have to respect our opponent, but we found a way to win. It shows big mental strength within the team.”

In setting the tone ahead of the tie, Slegers also highlighted that acknowledging Bayern’s quality does not mean conceding defeat. On the contrary, the message is one of optimism built on preparation, confidence and collective responsibility. Her position is clear: “We believe we can do something.”

From a broader perspective, this encounter serves as a microcosm of where Arsenal Women want to be: among Europe’s elite. Slegers’ career trajectory — from Arsenal academy player to coach, and now leading the first team — mirrors that ambition.

In short, the challenge is real. Bayern Munich bring abundant quality. But Slegers is making it clear that Arsenal are not there simply to admire their opponents, but to compete — with respect, yes — but also with conviction and the expectation to win. As she has put it, in games like this, it’s about imposing your standards, pushing your limits and showing that you belong. The stage is set, the respect is given — now it’s time for performance.