Chelsea FC Women travel to the Chigwell Construction Stadium this evening to take on West Ham in the quarter-final of the Continental Tyres League Cup and Ann-Katrin Berger says she’s excited to finally be out on the pitch again…
The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who made the shortlist for the final three in The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award on Monday evening, spoke about the honour and previews tonight’s game against West Ham.
‘I still can’t quite believe to be in the best three because for me I’m a normal goalkeeper. It is obviously an honour, but I still can’t get over the fact that I’m in that three.’
There was a lot of Chelsea representation at the FIFA Awards on Monday, with Magdalena Eriksson and Millie Bright making the FIFA FIFPro Women’s World 11 and Emma Hayes being named The Best Women’s Coach.
‘You can just see what Chelsea are all about, so I’m pleased and happy for my teammates that they got into the World 11. If it was me, I’d select more than just those two!
‘It just shows how good Emma is at her job. She started from scratch, so I think she more than deserves it because it’s taken a long time for her to become one of the best and I’m very, very pleased to play under her.’
Tonight’s fixture is the first game for the Blues since December 16, and Berger explains just how eager she is to finally play some competitive action again.
‘I’m very, very excited because it’s been a long time since we last played. For me, I train and train just to play on a Sunday or Wednesday because that’s the outcome you train for so I’m very, very excited about that! Everyone is just ready to get going and hopefully we win.’
Whatever happens tonight, there will be a result. If the game is a draw after the final whistle, it will go to extra-time and then a penalty shoot-out, something Berger has in the back of her mind.
‘I hope it doesn’t go to penalties, but for me as a goalkeeper I would love to have it because I quite like penalty shoot-outs! But I do hope we can get it done in the 90 minutes.
‘It should be a good game and the cup is something important and cool to play in because every team can turn up on the day so you never know, I’m looking forward to it.’
West Ham scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, a game which impressed Berger.
‘They showed character, because of how hard they play I think it’s really hard to beat them now as they will come in with confidence,’ she said.
‘Going down to 10 players but still getting an equaliser, I think that will push their confidence up and it won’t be an easy game for us. But also, you have to think that they just played, they may be feeling tired, but we don’t know so we have to just expect everything.’
The Blues have won the Continental Cup for the past two consecutive years and will be looking to retain the cup for the third year in a row.
The fixtures are now coming thick and fast for Emma Hayes’ side, but Berger explains the team are more than ready for it.
‘I think we are always ready for that, because when we played in the Champions League we had so many games. I think we have the depth in the squad that we can make that happen, I think we will be fine and I truly believe that.’
Blues fans worldwide will be able to watch tonight’s game live on the Chelsea website and the 5th Stand App. Kick-off is 7.30pm UK time.