Arsenal forward Alessia Russo is convinced Stina Blackstenius' winning strike was "written in the stars" after the Sweden international’s "best mate" Frida Maanum had collapsed during the 1-0 League Cup final victory over Chelsea.
Blackstenius broke the deadlock in extra time, in front of a competition final record 21,462 at Molineux, after Maanum, who was off the ball, had fallen to the ground in second-half stoppage time. She was quickly treated by paramedics and removed from the pitch on a stretcher, replaced by Russo.
Arsenal issued an update early in the first 15-minute period of extra-time, confirming Maanum was "conscious, talking and in a stable condition" and will be closely monitored by the club’s medical team.
Russo, speaking to the BBC after Arsenal won the trophy for a seventh time, snapping Chelsea’s chances at a season quadruple in the process, said: “This season’s been pretty high and pretty low, but we knew we had a chance to win some sort of trophy this year and we wanted to do that and that’s what we did.
“Obviously it’s devastating to see one of your team-mates go down like that.
"We’re all wishing and praying that she is OK. I think it was written in the stars that her best mate went and scored the winner for her.
“Obviously Frida is a massive player and plays with every single bit of her body, and she did that today. We just hope she’s OK.”
Chelsea, who entered the contest looking to secure their first silverware of the season, are FA Cup semi-finalists, remain locked into a thrilling battle with Manchester City for the Super League title and on are also in the Champions League semi-finals.
In contrast, the repeat meeting of last season’s Cup finalists was likely the last chance for the Gunners to get their hands on a trophy. They are nine points behind WSL league leaders Manchester City, who have played one game more, and trail Chelsea by six with five games remaining.
Blackstenius’ 116th-minute winner came when she latched onto Caitlin Foord’s pass and bundled the ball past Hannah Hampton, who had impressed all afternoon.
Russo added: “It’s massive. We knew we wanted this trophy and we know that winning trophies is part of this club’s DNA, and that’s what we want to do as players. We want to keep pushing the bar, pushing to keep ourselves to keep winning trophies.”
Blackstenius, speaking to BBC Sport after scoring the winner, said of Maanum: “It’s always really hard. She’s a team-mate and a friend to all of us. We care so much about her. You worry a bit when stuff like this happens. We said we wanted to do this for her, to get this win for her because she couldn’t be with us at that point.”
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who will depart the Blues at the end of the season to take charge of the US women’s national team, told the broadcaster: "Player welfare comes first every time.
"I really hope [Maanum] is OK. It’s always worrying when that happens.
"It’s a tough loss. There was nothing between the two teams, I didn’t think it was a high quality game, to be honest with you. [Arsenal] took their chance and they are winners."
Simeone wary of PSG threat but calm about Atleti's Champions League struggles
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is wary of the challenge his team will face against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, despite the French giants' Champions League travails.
Atletico and PSG have both struggled in the competition's new-look league phase, with Los Colchoneros taking three points from three matches to sit one behind PSG.
They have won nine of their 16 fixtures against French opposition in Europe's elite club competition but have never crossed paths with Ligue 1's most successful side.
"I didn't know that," Simeone told reporters when that face was highlighted at Tuesday's pre-match press conference.
"We need to stay calm, compete like in every match and do our best.
"I love the way PSG play, they have a very good game, they are dynamic and are marked by their coach.
"They have young, dynamic players, who we don't know where they're going to go, and some fixed points to pin people down in defence. From there they can grow.
"They have a lot of guys moving around in different positions from midfield and they play the kind of football that Luis Enrique has always played."
Atletico are coming off two defeats against Lille (3-1) and Benfica (4-0) after they won their Champions League opener 2-1 against RB Leipzig.
"It is still early, we are just starting, the season is long and the numbers are done at the end," Simeone said.
"It is normal to be worried, but we have to wait for the objectives, to be able to give a correct opinion. It will be a tough match, that is for sure."
Atletico will face the French champions without suspended defender Jose Maria Gimenez as well as Robin Le Normand, who continues to recover after a clash of heads with Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in their 1-1 derby draw last month.
"We have quite a few casualties in the defence," Simeone added.
"The team is competing and trying to find the tools to compete as that's what we have to do. We will try to do it in the best way with the boys who will have to come on."
Inzaghi expecting Arsenal reaction after Newcastle defeat
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi is expecting a difficult test against "one of the best teams in Europe" when Arsenal visit the San Siro in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arsenal come into the encounter against the reigning Serie A champions on the back of a defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend.
Mikel Arteta's side have now lost two of their last three league games, having tasted defeat just once in their 25 games in the top-flight (W21 D3) in 2024.
But Inzaghi, who helped Inter keep pace at the Serie A summit with a controversial 1-0 win over Venezia, is expecting a reaction from the Gunners.
"We are facing one of the best teams in Europe, very recognisable with a great coach," Inzaghi said.
"We all know how the big teams react after a defeat. Look at us after the derby... You find teams out for redress.
"I saw the match between Arsenal and Newcastle. Playing at Newcastle's home is not easy, but it was an open and fascinating match.
"We will find a team that lost two-and-a-half days ago, they will want to play a great game at San Siro."
Inter lost the Derby della Madonnina 2-1 to Milan in September, but have since gone on to win seven of their eight games in all competitions.
Inzaghi's side are just ahead of Arsenal in the Champions League table, with both teams picking up seven points from their opening three games.
The two sides have only met previously in the 2003-04 Champions League – both games were away wins (Arsenal 0-3 Inter, Inter 1-5 Arsenal).
While history favours the visiting side, Inzaghi has said his side will try to dominate possession against Arsenal in order to remain unbeaten in the competition.
"If you see Arsenal among 100 teams, without knowing the name, you recognise them. They played for the last two English titles, point for point with Manchester City," he said.
"We will have to try to keep the ball as much as possible, we know that we are facing a team that put on a lot of offensive pressure.
"We know that it will be a problem for us when they have the ball but the opposite is also true."
Arsenal have also struggled in recent games in the Champions League in Italy, failing to find the back of the net in their last four away games in the country.
Emmanuel Adebayor was the last Gunners player to score there in a 2-0 win over Milan in March 2008, and Inter will be confident of keeping it that way.
Although only five teams have faced more shots in the Champions League this season than Inter (53), they have kept three clean sheets so far.
Neymar suffers fresh injury blow
Neymar sustained a new injury as he was forced off during Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite win over Esteghlal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic plundered a hat-trick on Monday to seal a 3-0 win.
But Al-Hilal's victory was soured by an injury to Neymar, who had to make way just 29 minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute.
The Brazilian, who has just returned from over a year out of action following a serious knee injury, was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh issue.
Indeed, Monday's appearance was only the 32-year-old's second for Al-Hilal since his comeback.
He has featured just seven times for the Saudi Pro League champions in all competitions since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
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