Matildas striker Sam Kerr eyes FA Cup final win with Chelsea after injury scare
All eyes will be on Matildas star Sam Kerr in the Women’s FA Cup final following her injury scare and missing a game this week.
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Despite going down injured five days ago Sam Kerr is determined to help Chelsea bring home the Women’s FA Cup trophy for the third year running.
Kerr went down injured in Chelsea’s Women’s Super League 7-0 thumping over Everton on Monday morning (AEST), sending fear into the heart’s of Matildas’ fans.
The match was the day after the Australian was a flag bearer at the King’s coronation – an honour Kerr almost turned down as she didn’t want to miss a training session.
“I got offered the opportunity to be part of it about a month ago while I was in international camp, and I originally thought the Everton game was on the same day, so I thought it was not doable,” Kerr said at a pre-FA Cup press conference.
“But Emma (Hayes, the Chelsea manager) and the club were kind enough to let me attend, obviously because it’s an amazing, amazing honour, and something I’ll probably tell my kids about in 10, 15 years.
“It’s been a crazy week. I was quite worried about missing a training session, because that’s just who I am.
“But it all worked out – we had two wins (also 2-1 against Liverpool on May 3) and I got to attend the King’s coronation, which was something that was an amazing experience for me and a proud moment for my family.”
Kerr went down injured about 30 minutes into the Everton game.
But Hayes said Kerr had been sick the night before but still wanted to play.
“Her calf was cramping up so we decided to take her out,” Hayes told the official Chelsea website.
Kerr was rested the following game against Leicester, which Chelsea won 6-0.
Matildas’ fans will hope to see Kerr be in the starting 11 for Sunday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Chelsea have won the last two finals with Kerr scoring a double in each.
“I love playing at Wembley, I think it’s probably my favourite stadium to play at in the world, just based on whenever you go there it’s a big game,” Kerr said.
“I think this team always steps up when there’s a big occasion so it’s going be amazing – a packed-out crowd – my family is coming over for it. It’s going to be very exciting.
“I think when you win one trophy, you can’t help but want more.
“I love winning, whether it’s FA Cup finals, a game at the weekend, in training, whatever, and I hate losing, so it’s easy to stay motivated as a footballer, that’s our job, that’s why we do it. “If I wasn’t motivated, I wouldn’t be playing football.
“The FA Cup is a very important trophy to us and hopefully we can keep it at Chelsea.”
The match is on at 11.30pm Sunday (AEST).
Originally published as Matildas striker Sam Kerr eyes FA Cup final win with Chelsea after injury scare
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