Chelsea striker and golden boot winner Sam Kerr – fresh from lifting the Women’s Super League trophy – says the turning point in her up-front partnership with Fran Kirby came shortly after Christmas.
A 5-0 away thrashing of Reading saw Kirby score four times, with Kerr the provider. “She’s an unbelievable player; if you put the ball at her feet, she’ll score,” said Kerr this week.
The pair have worked tirelessly on developing what now seems a telepathic relationship in opponents’ goalmouths, with each supplying the other with killer final passes.
As a result, Chelsea again beat Reading 5-0 at the weekend, this time at Kingsmeadow, to cue bottles of bubbly bursting on a pitch where cups of tea are usually prohibited.
The Blues have retained the Women’s Super League trophy and this weekend are in Gothenburg to face bookies’ favourites Barcelona (unbeaten all season in the Spanish women’s league) in the Champions League final.
Kerr and Kirby will be pivotal. Kirby scored twice last Sunday and Kerr once, earning Kerr the golden boot ahead of Arsenal rival Vivianne Miedema.
But just as crucial was another clean sheet, and the award of the golden glove to Ann-Katrin Berger for her goalkeeping achievements during this remarkable season.
“It's definitely the best team I've been a part of,” said Kerr of her Chelsea teammates – some statement from the woman who has already won the golden boot in Australia and the United States. She already had five, with her mum the custodian of her trophy haul back home in Perth.
“We're electric going forward, and on the counter we're super, super quick,” said the Aussie forward.
They’ll need all their ability and focus for the match, which is free-to-air on telly.
Manager Emma Hayes (who will dash back to Blighty early Monday for son Harry’s third birthday party) will have to give the half-time pep talk of her career.
The Chelsea players have done all the hard work (“It’s not been all roses and butterflies,” said Kerr) and have the biggest, most elusive trophy within their grasp.
“Emma Hayes? She's been really, really important to me,” said Kerr. “A lot of people doubted me at the beginning of the year, but her belief has really encouraged me to get back into form. She's got me into the position of being the best player I can be.”
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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