Sam Kerr expressed her satisfaction with her current fitness level, stating she feels fully recovered. However, she plans to ease back into action after netting twice in Chelsea's 6-0 victory over St.
Polten in the Champions League. This match marked Kerr's first start for Chelsea in nearly two years, and her performance helped elevate the team to second place in the league phase standings.
Chelsea's commanding win was further bolstered by Catarina Macario, who also scored twice. Wieke Kaptein opened the scoring, and a Lisa Ebert own-goal added to the tally. Kerr has been gradually reintegrated into the squad after suffering an ACL injury in January of last year. She has appeared seven times in the Women's Super League this season, all as a substitute.
Kerr shared her thoughts on returning to competitive play: "Of course, I prefer to play more minutes. When you come on for 20 minutes, it's a bit hectic, there are a lot of subs, and it can be a bit wishy-washy," she told Disney+. "I feel like today was good. I had a few chances. I'm just happy to be back out here playing in the Champions League again with an amazing team. I'm relishing every moment. "
During the match, Kerr led her team with 11 shots, five on target, and 18 touches inside the opponent's box. Her goals contributed to Chelsea's historic achievement in the Champions League. Reflecting on her condition, Kerr stated: "I feel 100%, but I was out for a while, so I have to build myself up. " She emphasized that gaining match fitness is now her focus.
Sonia Bompastor praised Chelsea's overall performance but acknowledged room for improvement before halftime. Despite having 15 shots at Carina Schluter's goal with seven on target, Chelsea only managed two goals initially. Bompastor had urged her players to be more clinical in front of goal before kickoff.
After halftime, Chelsea improved significantly, finishing with an expected goals (xG) tally of 5.39 from their 43 shots. Bompastor aims for further improvements ahead of their upcoming Women's Super League match against Liverpool.
Coach Bompastor's Insights
Bompastor commented on the team's strategy: "Listen, we were able to score the first goal early on in the game. I think it always helps, and I probably would've liked the team to score the goals a little bit earlier. " She highlighted their effective game plan and control over ball possession throughout most of the match.
The coach noted their ability to break lines and create opportunities by moving the ball across the field to open spaces. While they could have taken more long-range shots in the first half, they capitalized on chances after halftime with some excellent goals.
Kerr is eager to continue building her fitness through game time while contributing significantly to Chelsea's success this season. The team's tactical execution under Bompastor remains focused on refining their attacking prowess as they prepare for future challenges.
