Leah Williamson exclusive: Arsenal's 'unwavering belief' can win us the Champions League | OneFootball

Lionesses captain insists Gunners are confident as they prepare for tough challenge of facing Barcelona

The Gunners were on the brink of going out in the qualifying round for a second successive season after Swedish side Hacken won the first leg. But Arsenal turned it around, before reaching the quarter-finals by finishing above Bayern Munich and topping their group.

That almighty scare against Hacken became a theme for an extraordinary season under Renee Slegers, who took over after Jonas Eidevall resigned in October and who Williamson says has had a “positive effect” on her career. “I can be honest with her, she can be honest with me,” says the Lionesses captain.

In the last eight, looking down and out after a 2-0 first-leg loss at Real Madrid, two goals from Alessia Russo inspired a 3-0 comeback win and progress to the semi-finals. The same again. Eight-time European champions Lyon won 2-1 at the Emirates - so Arsenal went to Lyon and won 4-1 for good measure. Now they are preparing for the biggest game of many of their careers.

Williamson, the Arsenal vice-captain, explains why the Gunners have been able to show such resilience on the road to Lisbon.

“By being very tasked-focused,” she tells Standard Sport. “These are our capabilities, but we have to earn the right to play. You have unwavering belief that you can reach that level; now is the time to show it. There was no bickering, no disagreement. If someone makes a decision, we trust them and back them.

Leah Williamson is fronting the Cadbury Game Changers campaign

Cadbury

“The beauty of two-legged fixtures is that you have time to reflect and overturn. The challenge of a final is not having that time. You have to adapt within it. To have achieved what we have this year is incredible.

“We’ve worked on being supportive of each other a lot. We play a team sport - so use that word to its full capacity. Then, when you need those big moments, you have that already in the bank.”

For Williamson, it is easy to know who to lean on within the Arsenal dressing room at times when she needs a little extra support.

“Lia Walti. She just seems to have knowledge about everything and always knows the right thing to say. And from an expertise perspective, Kim Little. She can come up with solutions without bias. That’s really important, because support doesn’t always mean a cuddle; it can mean challenging you.

“You have to play your role, and ultimately, one day, you’re the one with more experience. If I think back to early in my career, I wanted the people in those shoes at the time to help me,” adds Williamson, speaking at the launch of Cadbury Game Changers, a nationwide search to celebrate those who go above and beyond to support others. The campaign is calling for people to nominate their local Game Changers for recognition via the Cadbury UK Instagram channel.

“Everybody that has been a captain in the past would say that they would be the same person regardless. It just puts a bit more pressure on you to be that example all the time and not have the days when you’re not contributing in that way.”

The Arsenal supporters travelling out for the final at Estadio Jose Alvalade will contribute in their own way, too.

“In the Real Madrid game, I’ve never heard them like that before. There was a real will from them that came across in a supportive way. It wasn’t negative, impatient - it was almost like a trust. It’s nice when you have that sort of relationship with your fans.

I’m craving that feeling again — that high — of doing something with the club I love.

Leah Williamson

And is there a tougher opponent the WSL runners-up could possibly be tasked with beating in Lisbon than Barcelona, who have won the last two Champions League titles and this year’s Spanish league title?

“I would say no,” Williamson answers promptly. “But they are the reigning champions, so if there is a way to win it, I suppose you have to win these big games. We respect our opponent, of course we do - but have belief that we can do it.”

Leah Williamson is calling for the nation to nominate their local Game Changers for a chance to win a surprise visit from a Cadbury Football Ambassador such as herself. To find out more and nominate, head to @cadburyuk on Instagram.