‘I kept saying “do you believe in magic?” – and magic delivered’

Do you believe in magic, I kept asking myself. ‘”.

Childhood fan Leah Williamson took to the microphone while holding a Champions League trophy around her neck in front of 10, 000 Arsenal fans outside Emirates Stadium on Monday.

Renee Slegers’ side stunned European giants Barcelona to claim their first European title in 18 years with the only goal scored by Stina Blackstenius.

Williamson always believed Arsenal would have won the Champions League title, despite the fact that they were the favorites heading into Saturday’s final against a Barca side that was chasing a third successive title.

“Do you believe in magic? is something I’ve been saying for a long time, and my team-mates will all say that.” ‘”, she said. That’s what I could sense, she said.

I was certain that it would occur against Lyon and that it would occur in the final. And magic came true.

Williamson became the team’s mascot when Arsenal last won the championship in 2007 at the age of eight.

The 28-year-old had a lump in her throat when she addressed the audience, which was her close friend and 2007 Champions League scorer, Alex Scott.

We all knew it would be a special day, but when we all left today, we all declared, “This is one of those moments.” I’ll tell my grandkids about this at some point.

“I have witnessed with my own two eyes how successful Arsenal have been, especially the women of Arsenal,” according to my education. I had no desire to miss anything about it. It is very unique.

North London was clouded on Monday with grey skies, but the sea of red and white as thousands of fans poured into Armoury Square was breathtaking.

Due to safety concerns, the celebrations had a 10, 000 capacity, but fans turned out in droves, some arriving as early as 06:00 BST to secure their spot.

Win, a club dog from Arsenal, was in full view as Beth Mead held him during the event, which was brought to the club by men’s manager Mikel Arteta to create the family atmosphere.

As she took the microphone and sang Sweet Caroline, Freed From Desire, and Simply the Best, left-back Katie McCabe was living her best life. Both players and fans clapped along to the music.

When McCabe addressed the crowd, “I’ve been with these girls for almost ten years.” My blood is red.

The girls “are everything you need in a team,” said the team’s leader on Saturday night in Lisbon.

Arsenal, the only English club to have won the Women’s Champions League, will now bypass the qualification stages for the following season’s competition, moving on to the group stage as holders.

Given the turbulent start to the season, the Gunners’ victory in Lisbon is even more impressive. They lost the first leg of their Champions League qualifying match and only managed to win one of their first four league games.

Boss Jonas Eidevall resigned in October, and Slegers was appointed interim in January. He was then made a permanent employee.

Slegers’ achievements are still sapping, and she has never been able to get beyond the Champions League’s group stages this year.

After the game, the Dutchwoman told the crowd, “There were so many emotions.” “I anticipated that I would be taking it in when I got home, but I just ordered food and snoozed.”

If you are together and stick together whatever happens, you can improve daily if you have the foundation of being excellent players, which is what we have done.

The final word was spoken to the history-making Blackstenius before the Arsenal players lifted the trophy and donned red and white confetti.