Matildas captain Sam Kerr warns she is ‘only playing at 80 per cent’ after hat-trick for Chelsea in Champions League
- Sam Kerr was a standout for Chelsea against Paris FC
- Hat trick in the Champions League again a highlight for the striker
- Matildas captain endured an injury-interrupted World Cup
Sam Kerr believes she is still not quite at her best despite a pulsating hat-trick that highlighted Chelsea’s Champions League victory over hapless Paris FC.
âI’m pretty close, but I’m not there yet,â Kerr warned after her treble in Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
The recently engaged star agreed with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes’ statement that she is still playing at just ’80 per cent’ of her ability after a frustrating, injury-punctured period dating back to the Women’s World Cup on home soil.
But even Hayes was left smiling: “If that’s her 80 percent then I’ll take it” after Kerr produced a striking masterclass, capped by a brilliant, instinctive lob that outwitted a retreating Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Kerr believed the well-taken goal was an indication that she was “coming back close to 100 percent.”
Sam Kerr believes she’s still not quite at her best despite a hat-trick that highlighted Chelsea’s Champions League win over hapless Paris FC
Kerr believes she is playing at ’80 per cent’ after a series of calf injuries that also resulted in a largely frustrating World Cup on home soil
Sam Kerr’s incredible goal against England in the World Cup semi-final was a highlight for many Matildas fans
âI just need more consistency, more training and more games,â said the Matildas captain.
âThis last block of games was difficult because you didn’t do that [get the chance to] train so often.’
On the eve of the London match, Kerr â who has endured an ongoing battle with injuries to both her calves â admitted: ‘I’ve never really [since I’ve been at Chelsea] had a little injury or little problem so it was quite frustrating to be honest.
‘But I definitely feel like I’m on the rise now. âIt’s very positive for me that even though I haven’t been at my best, I am [still] performing.
‘Maybe I’m not at my top level, but I still scored a few goals. I think as a striker you can lose a bit of that confidence if you’re not in the flow.
‘In the next two to three weeks I will hopefully be back to my best.’
Kerr, who also scored her second Women’s Super League goal of the season against Liverpool last weekend, will be back in action on Sunday (Monday, AEDT) when the league leaders return to their usual Kingsmeadow base to host Leicester City, where compatriot Remy Siemsen is tipped to be on the Foxes’ teamsheet.