Renée: “We want to cherish these moments” | Quotes

With just three Barclays Women’s Super League games left in the 2025/26 season, Renée Slegers says it’s important to cherish the moments remaining with this team.

While we’re no longer able to win the WSL title, we still have an important second place spot to compete for, which would ensure qualification for next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League group phase.

“We want to be in here now,” she said in her pre-Aston Villa press conference. “But, of course, where we position ourselves at the end of this season in the table is going to have an impact on next season as well. We’re going to do absolutely everything.

“We have that as a target to get the Champions League spot for next year. But then also, at the same time, we put that pressure on ourselves to do that. But at the same time, we also have to be very aware that we have to be in the here and now, and enjoy what we’re doing together, because this group will never be the same again.

“There will be players and staff leaving at the end of the season. So we really want to cherish these moments that we have together and make the absolute most out of it.”

Every word of Renée’s pre-Aston Villa presser

Aston Villa go into this game ninth in the WSL with five wins, five draws and 10 defeats from 20 matches, scoring 27 goals and conceding 43 – the second worst defensive record in the division.

So what challenges are we expecting from this weekend’s trip to Villa Park, compared to last season’s difficult outing in Birmingham?

“I think there are similarities, but also differences between our last two seasons,” Renée added. “I think the similarities are Lyon in the semi-final, so the actual schedule, and the games right between and after. So that was Brighton and Villa as well.

“What we expect from Villa, it’s their last home game for the season. I think they want to finish it well at home, in front of their own fans. What exactly they are going to present to us, let’s see, both tactically and personnel-wise. Let’s see who’s available for them, and how they’re going to attack the game.

“We’ll have to be dynamic, but we’ve been talking about focusing on our own game anyway, because we’re so good when we’re at our best, so we want to bring our own best game, regardless of (the) opponent’s tactical plan, so doing our basics really well tomorrow.”