Nadia Nadim expressed that Koge, despite a narrow loss to Arsenal, is enjoying their journey in the Women’s Champions League.
The Gunners, who claimed the European title in 2025, secured a 1-0 victory against the Danish side, which is participating in its second Champions League season.
A late penalty from Mariona Caldentey sealed the win for Arsenal, who struggled to capitalize on their chances.
Though Arsenal took 19 shots, only two were on target, and they also struck the woodwork.
Despite the late heartbreak for Koge, Nadim, who was a key player for her team, felt proud of her teammates’ efforts.
“I am very proud of the team and how we played, particularly in the first half,” she told ESPN on Disney+.
“We’re a young squad, many of whom are new to this level, so it’s good for them to experience it. I’m disappointed we conceded in the last moments, but it’s our first Champions League match, and we have more games ahead.”
“We aimed to be solid and maintain possession, and we had players comfortable on the ball. In the last 30 minutes, our strategy changed, which led to us being unable to cope with the pressure.”
“Kudos to Arsenal; they are a great team and connect well. It’s fine; I’m happy the young players got this experience.”
“Playing physically is demanding; when you’re so low, creating chances becomes challenging, and it’s tough to stay consistent in the box.”
“I love football and cherish this game. It’s great to be back. The Champions League is special. We are a new team; let’s see how far this journey takes us.”
PUSHED ‘TIL THE END pic.twitter.com/orhyMlI1Md
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 22, 2026
English teams have now gone unbeaten in their last 11 Champions League matches against Danish clubs (W8 D3), following Arsenal’s 1-5 defeat to Fortuna Hjorring in the 2002-03 semi-final.
This victory also marked Arsenal’s first win in their opening Champions League match after two consecutive losses in previous seasons.
“We left it late,” said Arsenal defender Steph Catley.
“It’s tough at the moment; in the Champions League, no match is easy. They defended well, and we struggled to find the net until the end.”
“In this competition, you can never assume a straightforward game. I anticipated a challenging match, and it turned out to be very difficult, but credit to the team; they fought hard and Mariona was calm under pressure.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint what’s not clicking. We’re trying our hardest to score, but it’s been a grind, and the goals aren’t flowing as easily as before. We have a storied history in this tournament, and it’s vital for us to be competitive every year. We genuinely believe we can win it, and starting strong is crucial for a long season ahead.”
On the same day, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain played to a 1-1 draw.
Felicia Schroder scored for Madrid just two minutes in, but Sakina Karchaoui equalized with a penalty in the second half.
Fan Take: This match underscores the growing competitiveness in women’s soccer, with smaller clubs like Koge stepping up to challenge established giants. It highlights the importance of experience for young players, suggesting that as the sport continues to evolve, we can expect even more thrilling matchups in the future.
Source: www.soccernews.com
