Aston Villa boss brands superstar Sam Kerr the best player in the WORLD

Aston Villa boss Carla Ward has been full of praise for Sam Kerr after knocking her side out of the Women’s FA Cup, describing the Australian as ‘the best platers in the world’.

Kerr’s second-half header was the only goal of the match as Chelsea kept alive their bid for a third successive FA Cup win on Sunday.

“A world-class player has come up with a big, big moment,” Ward said at her post-game press conference.

“They have one big moment and there she is and that’s what she’s good at and that’s why she’s the best in the world.”

Kerr had no chances for the better part of an hour and made her first chance count as she drifted away from Maz Pacheco to the back post before heading Guro Reiten’s cross past Hannah Hampton.

Villa boss Carla Ward described the Australian as the best player in the world after the game

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was also impressed by the Australian’s contribution, insisting she was by far the best striker in the world.

“I’ve never seen a striker move as much as she does,” she said.

She’s a nightmare to defend. Her energy level, it’s like she’s a 12 year old, it’s contagious, but her qualities, that’s her ability.

“I don’t know a striker in world football who can do what she does, she is the best.”

Chelsea take on Manchester United at Wembley on May 14 to become the first team to win three FA Cups in a row since Arsenal lifted the trophy for seasons on the trot between 2006 and 2009.

And if Kerr’s recent league record is anything to go by, they have a great chance of doing so.

The Australian has scored twice in both FA Cup finals she has played since joining Chelsea in 2020. She scored twice in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat in 2021 and two more in last season’s 3-2 win over Manchester City.

With the injuries to Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder – who was back on the bench against Villa – Kerr’s goals have been even more important for Chelsea this season.

The Aussie has scored eight goals in the Women’s Super League and has found the net five times in the Champions League, keeping The Blues in contention in both competitions.

Kerr’s acrobatic header was the difference between Villa and Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes (right) said no other striker can do what Kerr is doing

Chelsea are one point behind Manchester United in the league with five games remaining, but have one more game to face their rivals and take on Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

“We’re going for every trophy we can. We are Chelsea, we are not coming to finish second,” Kerr told the BBC after beating Villa.

“All those injuries have brought us closer together as a team. We don’t have that many players who are fit and healthy at the moment, so we all have to give each other a push.

“It’s been a long season but we’ve done well so far – hopefully it continues.”