Chelsea Women not set to risk Berger in WSL – with Wolfsburg return the priority

BY PAUL LAGAN
paul@slpmedia.co.uk

Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes will almost certainly keep goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger under wraps and ensure she sits out their return to WSL action on Sunday when they take on Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow.

German stopper Berger was the star on Wednesday as the west Londoners achieved a tight 2-1 first-leg Champions League victory over Wolfsburg.

But Berger, 30, took a battering from the opposition and looks to have sustained a muscle injury too which could even put her in doubt for next week’s return leg – both matches are being played in Budapest due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Had it not been for a combination of the away side hitting the woodwork on two occasions and Berger’s extraordinary athletic performance to deny the opposition gilt-edge chances, Wolfsburg would have been out of sight in the opening 45 minutes.

As it was the Blues took a 2-0 second-half lead through Sam Kerr and ex-Wolfsburg skipper Pernille Harder, before succumbing to a penalty that even Berger could not stop to keep alive their hopes of Champions League glory.

It sets the tie up nicely butHayes will be sweating on Berger’s fitness and won’t risk her even if she comes through a late test tomorrow.

Hayes said: “It’s a goalkeeper’s job to make saves. Berger is amazing, the best in the world.

“The game played out how I expected. I’m grateful we only conceded one goal.”

Hayes could bring in either veteran Carly Telford or recent signing Zecira Musovic, both of whom were on the bench in Budapest.

Chelsea have a two-point lead over second-place Manchester City in the WSL. They cannot afford any more slip ups, such as the recent home loss to Brighton. Hayes said: “We want to remain top of the league, that’s important, and they [Villa] are fighting to stay in the league.

“You ask Man City about the game they had away to Bristol, or our away game at Aston Villa, these games are hard. You have earn it to break the side down, we will have to be ready as they will make it extremely difficult for us.”

Hayes attention will then return to Wolfsburg. She said: “Wolfsburg have the advantage because they have been in the later stages of the Champions League for years.

“They will throw absolutely everything at us next week. I’m expecting another level from them.

“But we have closed the gap to them. They are still a top team. I learned that we have to suffer moments. But the first leg was all about staying in the tie. The advantage is with them as they have the away goal. But we were spirited, we gave them a game.”