ANN-KATRIN BERGER admits to being unbothered by missing out on one of the women’s games top goalkeeping awards this year.
And the Chelsea ace, who emerged as one of the WSL’s best stoppers after overcoming thyroid cancer, still sees herself as an underdog in the sport.
Ann-Katrin Berger says she sees herself as “an underdog” despite her success on the pitchCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
Berger, who made a switch to Kingsmeadow from Birmingham in January 2019, has seen her club career thrive under Emma Hayes.
The Germany international, 30, who will take on Reading in the Blues first league outing of 2021, has kept seven clean sheets in 12 games across all competitions for this term.
And her performances for the WSL champs, who have gone unbeaten in the league this year, earned the former PSG player a Best Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper nomination.
Berger told Fifa’s website: “It wasn’t a disappointment when I didn’t win, because I still see myself as an underdog.
“When I was nominated, I was the only goalkeeper yet to make their debut for their country.
“I went on the assumption that I wouldn’t win and still celebrated my nomination as a victory.
“Apart from the pandemic, it was a very successful year for me – both individually and also for my team.
“Based on that, I’d say that while the pandemic obviously happened, I didn’t want to focus too much on it and preferred to concentrate on the sporting side of things instead.
“It was my safe place, as it were – that was all there was as far as I was concerned. It gave me more time to work on myself.”
Ann Katrin-Berger was nominated for a Best Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper award which went to Lyon’s Sarah BouhaddiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Berger left France’s top-flight in 2016 to become Birmingham City’s No1 between the sticks in the Women’s Super League.
And she caught the eye of Blues boss Emma Hayes when she made 11 saves including a penalty stop to help Birmingham knockout Chelsea in the 2017 Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.
In November that year the Germany star was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and would later undergo an operation and radiotherapy treatment.
But the WSL ace would go on to make her comeback four months later and seal a move to Chelsea in 2019.
Berger added: “I’ve always been the kind of person who isn’t fazed by challenges – they spur me on.
Ann-Katrin Berger and Chelsea are targetting WSL and Champions League trophy wins in 2021Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.
“I’ve now been nominated as one of the top six goalkeepers in the world and in England, I was named in the team of the year.
“I want to consolidate that and make sure it wasn’t a one-off.
“2020 finished off well in sporting terms and I want to carry that over into 2021.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
