Alessia Russo willing to suffer ‘in Arsenal Battle for Champions League Glory

Alessia Russo is ready to suffer against Barcelona if this leads to the largest club prize in Arsenal Europe’s again.

The chance to play in the final of the Champions League is a dream that Gunners’s striker has worn since childhood.

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An ambition that she would “have bitten an arm” to fulfill.

During her younger years of performance in a Champions League final, the Dream Russo, 26, had only a few hours away from coming out.

It will be shared with a club that is to date the only English side that the women’s competition won 18 years ago with their triumph over the Swedish outfit Umea.

This striker said: “If a small child is the idea to compete in the Champions League, let alone play in the final, something that I would have to get an arm to get.

“Now it comes around, it feels special and we just try to enjoy the structure and the moment.

“I know that (so much) work has been done for a long time (by the players and the club)

“Arsenal have been important in terms of ladies’ clubs from England in the Champions League and write history in that competition.

‘We know what we come across Barcelona. Their history speaks for itself. “

Barcelona has taken a long way since their Champions League Debut in October 20212

A match that ended with their 4-0 group stage loss for an Arsenal team and then managed by the English Gaffer Laura Harvey

At 17:00 today at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, is a huge challenge for Russo, her teammates and their Dutch coach Renee Slagers.

Arsenal hopes to be the first team that Barcelona will fall over in the decision maker of the match since the triumph of Lyon three years ago

The Ten Top-Flight Champions of Spain have won three of the last four finals

Their journey to this included a semi-final dismantling of Chelsea With an 8-2 aggregated victory.

Russo added: “They have been there and did it in almost everything.

“Knowing that we come across an absolute world class team, we have to be at our best, engaged, humble and ready to go

“I feel that if we were not, we would not be in the final in the first place.”

The capacity area of ​​50,095 where they will play, the home of Portuguese giants with Lisbon, has organized some memorable games in the past.

Meetings include Sporting’s 3-1 defeat of Manchester United in August 2003 in the inaugural fixed value of the stadium.

A friendly in which the deception of an then 18-year-old CRistiano Ronaldo attracted the attention of ex-red devil boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

A game that turned out to be crucial in influencing the scotman’s decision to sign the attacker to be the top scorer of the Champions League of all time.

Today Russo wants to make a number of crucial moments, just like last month during Arsenal’s Semis Knock -out of Lyon.

“It will be difficult and we will have to suffer in moments.

Alessia Russo

She scored the third goal on her side last when they got a tough fightback from the second leg with the record winners of the tournament with 4-1 after their 2-1

And the striker, who scored seven goals in ten Champions League performances, this term is willing to suffer to win.

Russo added: “We want to leave everything on the field.

“It will be difficult and we will have to suffer in moments.

“In games like this you just have to leave everything behind. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true.

“The more you play in these games and dealing with the pressure, the highlights and the lows of all this can only help you further.

“We (my teammates and I) spoke about the biggest games in our career.”

“This is definitely one of them. It’s huge for all of us and to do it with Arsenal feels really special.”

The last collision between the Gunners and their opponents, ended in a tough 4-0 group phase loss for the London side in December 2021

Nowadays the Gunners have the bonus of an ex-barca star Mariona Caldentey, 29, in their ranks.

The Champions League-winning experience of the Spain game maker, who has lifted the trophy for the past four years, will be crucial.

Russo said: “Mariona has a crazy football brain and I am sure she has some things in her sleeve.

“It’s nice to have input from her, not only because she played for Barcelona, ​​but because she has won the Champions League and the World Cup.

“She knows how to win at these important moments.”

Arsenal’s last trip in a final of a Champions League 18 years ago resulted in a triumph over Umea after a draw of two games.

The decisive second stage for the team, then managed by former Club Kitman Vic Akers, ended as a 1-0 win at Boreham Wood with full-back Alex Scott’s Strike who sealed the victory.

It is a game that Russo and her friends watched in the run -up to today’s game.

The striker adds: “We looked at the highlights a few weeks ago of the second stage in Boreham Wood.

“It is strange to think that it was the last time that an English club won the Champions League.

“I was at an adidas event with Rachel Yankey (who played in the game) and she thought about the game.

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“She remembered (the atmosphere) in Boreham Wood that was electric.

“Rachel said that the players wanted to use the audience enormously because our fans are incredible.

“I know we have great support in Lisbon.”