Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal Women’s left-back Katie McCabe has declared her determination to go “to battle” as the Gunners prepare for the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against eight-time champions Lyon.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash in France, McCabe said the team is feeling confident and united, drawing strength from past experiences — particularly their hard-fought semi-final encounter with Wolfsburg in 2023.
“It’s been nearly two years since we were in this position with the club, with the Wolfsburg game,” McCabe said. “We are feeling good and unified and really focused. You have to have grit, perseverance, and courage to step up in these games. We were frustrated at times in the first leg by the fine margins and not getting over the line.”
Arsenal trail Lyon 2-1 after last weekend’s narrow defeat at the Emirates, but McCabe believes this squad, unlike the injury-depleted team of 2023, is better prepared to rise to the challenge.
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One of the most experienced players in the squad, McCabe emphasised the importance of the fans’ energy, both at home and on the road, in pushing the team forward.
Arsenal Women star Katie McCabe (Image credit: Getty Images)“The feeling the fans give us — at the Emirates last week, and with the travelling fans coming over on Sunday — the energy they give us, it makes me feel very privileged to pull on this shirt,” she said. “Playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League — I can’t wait to embrace it.”
Facing a Lyon team filled with attacking talent, McCabe spoke about the tactical demands of her role, particularly in dealing with star winger Kadidiatou Diani.
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“You’ve got to be so on it in terms of where your opponent is, where the ball is, and where your teammates are,” she explained. “It’s about reading and feeling the spaces in those moments. Of course, I respect Diani and the whole Lyon team because of what they’ve achieved.”
Despite Lyon’s pedigree and first-leg advantage, McCabe remains confident in Arsenal’s strengths — especially in attack. “We know our qualities, particularly going forward, and for me, that is one of my strengths — making forward runs, arriving into space, and delivering balls into the box,” she said. “We believe in ourselves, and we’re ready for this challenge.”
Katie McCabe also hinted that while the team has made tactical adjustments in training, she won’t compromise her attacking instincts. “We’ve touched on certain things during the week, but I don’t want to lose that aspect of my game going forward.”
Arsenal’s journey to the semi-finals included a dramatic comeback against Real Madrid, overturning a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate — a testament to the team’s resilience and belief.
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