Hanna Bennison ready for ‘tough’ Arsenal test and a ‘must-win’ Women Champions League game for Juventus
HANNA BENNISON has grown accustomed to performing under pressure during her journey to the top of women’s football.
Tonight the Juventus ace and her club pals face the tough task of attempting to keep their Champions Leagues hopes alive by avoiding a loss to Arsenal.
Hanna Bennison and her team-mates are currently third in their Women’s Champions League group behind Bayern Munich and Arsenal[/caption]
Juventus will need to avoid a defeat away at Arsenal should Bayern Munich beat or draw with Valerenga in their group stage game[/caption]
Arsenal have been fine form under interim boss Renee Slegers winning five and drawing one of their last six games in the WSL and Europe[/caption]
It was four years ago in January that the former Everton ace, then 17, was included on a Uefa list of ten young up and coming players to look out for.
Being named by as one of Europe’s promising young players is a fond memory for Bennison
It also made her reflect on the pressure that comes with performing at elite level.
The playmaker said: “It was really fun to get their nomination, but then also I think it brought a lot of pressure on me.
“I felt like I had to show that I’m one of those (top players).
“But of course I was really happy to be recognised in that way.
“I’ve always been putting pressure on myself ever since I was young because I want to be the best I can be.
“I’ve always played with pressure.
“At times it got a bit hard but then I took the help I needed, for example, by talking to my family and friends, and that has helped a lot.
“You’re always going to feel pressure somehow when you play football.
“You need to perform, you want to perform and you want to be the best you can.
“I accept that there is going to be pressure. For me it’s about learning how to deal with it.”
Since making her senior club football debut at 15 at the start of a three-year stint with FC Rosengard, Bennison’s journey has included lifting two top-flight titles with them in Sweden in 2019 and 2021.
An August 2021 transfer to Everton, with the forward signing for a club record-breaking six-figure sum, followed her time with the Swedish side.
And after three years and 63 Women’s Super League appearances for the Toffees, Bennison sealed a three-year move to Juventus in July.
Her switch to the top-flight Italian side came 11 months after helping Sweden battle their to a bronze medal win in last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia.
And having been part of Everton teams that finished tenth, sixth and eighth in England’s top tier, Bennison felt she was “ready for something new” with Juve.
This includes competing for a Serie A Women’s title and in the Champions League with the Turin side who have won five top-flight titles.
Before her move the midfielder chatted to her Sweden international team-mate Linda Sembrant.
The Swedish centre-back spent three years at Juve prior to joining Bayern Munich this summer.
Bennison adds: “I just got a really good feeling speaking to the head coach and other staff around the club.
“I spoke to Linda who was here before. For me, I needed something new and Juventus are interesting because of their style of play.
“Winning games, playing in the Champions League and competing at the highest level is important to me.
“I felt this is a good environment for me to come to and to hopefully play a lot as well.
“I want to develop and grow with the team and of course we want to win things.”
On the domestic front Juventus are currently faring well with the team top of the table.
Ahead of their Sunday away clash with Como, Bennison’s side are unbeaten in 10 games and four points off second-placed Fiorentina.
Tonight at 8:00pm however they face a battle to keep hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals alive.
The team are currently third in Group C and three points behind Arsenal who are second after two losses from their opening three group stage fixtures.
They must avoid a loss to Gunners at the Emirates should Bayern Munich beat Valerenga in the other Group C clash taking place this evening.
Bennison, whose side lost 4-0 to Arsenal last week, said: “It’s a game we need to win.
Juventus will take on Como when they return to Serie A action this Sunday[/caption]
“We will do our very best to deliver a good performance and try to win it, but we know it will be hard.
“We let in a lot of goals towards the end of the last game which we’re not happy about. We want to do things differently in this game.
“It would mean a lot (to win) and that’s our goal. But it’s going to be tough for sure.”
