Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers reflected on her side’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat to Real Madrid, with Linda Caicedo and Athena del Castillo scoring the decisive goals for the home side.

A sub-standard playing surface bearing the effects of heavy rain on Tuesday in Madrid was better adapted to by the home side than Arsenal, with Real effective in transition and taking their chances.

Asked by the Gooner Fanzine about her side’s difficulties in recent weeks all seemingly coming on tough pitches, Slegers said: “We spoke about it with the players before the game. We knew the condition of the pitch. 

“So we had a plan for it. But then it's always hard because over a season and over time you work on things and you have an identity the way you want to do things. 

“So then reality comes and these conditions come and all of a sudden you need to do things differently. So that's of course hard. But the players tried. So all credit to them for trying and the work rate.”

Arsenal legend Ian Wright took to Instagram to criticise the pitch, labelling it a "f***ing disgrace."