Women’s football

MANCHESTER CITY will have to do without Chloe Kelly in their title-deciding clash with West Ham this weekend after she picked up a knee injury.The England striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her right knee in City’s 4-0 win over Birmingham on Sunday.
A devastated Kelly will miss the rest of City’s seasonCredit: PA
Kelly went off injured during City’s 4-0 win over BirminghamCredit: PA
The 23-year-old scored twice in the game before a second-half collision with Blues defender Rebecca Holloway saw her leave the field on a stretcher.
After a nail-biting wait to see the extent of the damage, City revealed Kelly will be out of action for a lengthy period.
The Manchester giants shared the devastating blow on Twitter while wishing Kelly a speedy recovery.
The club statement read: “Chloe Kelly is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury to her right knee in Sunday’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against Birmingham City.
“Everyone at City wishes Chloe all the best in her recovery and will give her all the support she requires.”
Her Lionesses team-mate and Chelsea rival Fran Kirby was gutted by the news and also wished her well.
She wrote: “Absolutely gutted for you, You’ll be back and everyone’s with you.”
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City and Chelsea are locked in a battle to lift the WSL trophy with only a point between them.
But the Blues who are fresh off their Champions League semi-final win, have a game in hand which could give them a slight edge.
And Kelly, who’s scored some important goals for Gareth Taylor’s side this season, will be missed as the race goes down to the wire.
Kelly’s goals will be missed as City aim to lift the WSL title this weekendCredit: PA
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ARSENAL ace Katie McCabe has committed her long-term future to the club and hopes to help them win more trophies.The Republic of Ireland captain inked the new deal on Tuesday but the length of her new contract is yet to be revealed.
McCabe has inked a new long term deal with ArsenalCredit: Getty
The Gunners shared the news on Twitter – but reported that the deal was still “subject to the completion of regulatory processes” on their website.
They tweeted: “We’ve got McCabe… and now she’s here to stay!”
Upon signing the contract extension, the forward declared her love for the Gunners and revealed her desire to help them lift more silverware.
While speaking to their website, she said: “I’m absolutely delighted.
“I love this club and I feel like we’re in a really good place and that we’re ready to push on.
“I’m delighted it got done and now I’m ready to kick on and help this club win more trophies.”
She went on to say that her time at the club had been amazing so far and that she feels that they’re in a position to excel with their current setup.
McCabe added: “It’s been amazing ever since I joined the club.
“There’s been ups and downs along the way, but I feel like I’m in a really good place with the team that we’ve got.
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The Gunners shared their joy at McCabe’s contract extension on Twitter

“The players we’ve got and all the staff behind the scenes. I’m really happy to commit my future.”
Since her arrival at Meadow Park in 2015 from Irish side Shelbourne FC, McCabe has helped the Gunners win the FA Cup, the League Cup and Women’s Super League.
And she’ll have the chance to help them add the Champions League to their cabinet after her decisive goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Everton last weekend helped them secure qualification to Europe.
She has been a key player in Joe Montemurro’s team this season, scoring four goals and providing 12 assists in just 24 matches.
One of her stand-out moments was a stunning free-kick in Arsenal’s 6-1 rout against rivals Tottenham.
Montemurro also expressed his delight at McCabe’s decision to stay at the club and said she has been one of the highlights of his managerial career.
Since she returned from her half-season loan with Glasgow City in 2017, Montemurro believes she has developed into a “world class” player.
He said: “Katie McCabe is one of the highlights of the last three or four years here.
“It’s been a project which has been an exciting one. She’s been thrown every challenge from the day that we brought her back from her loan.
“And I think she’s just developed into a world-class left-sided player. All credit to her, she personifies exactly what we want from our squad.”
But, unfortunately the pair’s working relationship is coming to an end as Montemurro will be leaving the Gunners hot-seat at the end of this season.
He announced his shock exit at the end of March after spending three years at the helm.
At the time of the news, Montemurro revealed that his decision to leave had been the hardest of his professional career so far.
Montemurro said that managing McCabe has been one of the highlights of his Arsenal careerCredit: PA
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DIDIER DROGBA praised Pernille Harder’s lethal goal against Bayern Munich – a bullet header similar to his clinical finish against the club’s Bundesliga side in 2012. Both players netted decisive efforts with less than ten minutes to go in high stakes Champions League clashes for the Blues.
Drogba praised Harder for scoring a goal similar to his when Chelsea’s Prem giants beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League finalCredit: Reuters
Harder and Drogba helped Chelsea win high stakes games against Bayern in Europe with late headersCredit: Getty
Harder’s finish against the leaders of Germany’s top women’s football division catapulted Chelsea to their first Champions League final.
The Denmark international’s effort showed why the Blues broke the women’s game’s transfer record to sign her for a fee reportedly in excess of £250,000.
Harder’s glancing header brought triumphant memories flooding back for Drogba who was part of the team that achieved a remarkable men’s Champions League final win under Roberto Di Matteo.
The ex-Wolfsburg star’s goal was a game-changer like Drogba’s effort against Bayern when Chelsea’s Prem side lifted the European trophy.
And the former Ivory Coast forward thanked Harder for the “throwback” to that dramatic night in Germany in May 2012.
Harder’s strike put Chelsea into the finals of the Women’s Champions League for the first time in their 29-year history
Harder has netted four goals in eight Champions League games this season
Bayern looked like sure winners at the Allianz Arena after Thomas Muller gave them the lead on 83 minutes only for Drogba to level with a powerful header two minutes from time.
The Ivory Coast forward nearly went from hero to villain when he gifted Bayern a penalty after bringing down Franck Ribery in extra time.
But his blushes were spared as Petr Cech saved Arjen Robben’s attempt before the Blues went on to win the game 4-3 in an epic penalty shoot-out.
Drogba went on to praise Cech for his masterful save and said he blacked out after their amazing feat.
He said: “I wanted to run directly to the boys but Petr was the guy that saved my night.
“I had to go to him, I said thank you and we said ‘we did it’. Then black out.”
And now the WSL leaders have the opportunity to win their first Champions League crown just as the men’s team did nine years ago.
Chelsea will play Tottenham next in the WSL

After losing the semi-final first leg 2-1 to Bayern, they came back with a vengeance in the return tie to win 4-1.
That result saw Emma Hayes’s side secure a 5-3 aggregate result.
Fran Kirby put the Blues ahead on the day, before Bayern equalised but Ji So-yun gave them the lead again.
Harder’s Drogba-esque header put Chelsea in pole position for a place in the final against Barcelona before Fran Kirby strike put a win out of Bayern’s reach.
Chelsea, who are looking to win back-to-back WSL titles, will play Tottenham the penultimate league game this term.
And the club, who play Reading in their final game of the season, are rumoured to be interested in a summer swoop for Man United starlet Lauren James.
Emma Hayes’ players are looking to win their first Champions League trophy just as Chelsea’s Prem side did in 2012Credit: AP:Associated Press
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CHELSEA are reportedly planning a summer transfer move for Manchester United starlet Lauren James.The Daily Mail claims the WSL club are willing to pay a record fee for the forward, whose brother Reece plays for the Blues’ men’s side.
United forward Lauren James is reportedly on Chelsea’s summer transfer radarCredit: PA
But Emma Hayes’ side may have to fight off stiff competition from French champions Lyon who are also thought to be interested in the 19-year-old..
If the Blues’ rumoured move comes to fruition, it could see James link up with older brother Reece who has already made a name for himself at Stamford Bridge
And it would also see the duo make history as the first brother and sister to play for the same club after already achieving the feat on the national stage for England.
It is claimed the allure of Champions League football could tempt James to a Chelsea switch.
And the striker’s United team, who face Everton next, will miss out on playing in next season’s competition with Arsenal pipping them to third in the WSL.
James has managed 11 starts for Casey Stoney’s side this season, having missed part of the Red Devils’ 2020-21 campaign due to injury.
The striker, who received her first senior England call-up in November 2020, has netted 22 goals in 40 Man United appearances following a 2018 switch from Arsenal.
And the WSL starlet has been touted as a rising star of the women’s game in Europe following her contribution to the Red Devils’ promotion to the top flight in 2019.
Lauren James’ brother Reece has made 40 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this termCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Earlier this year James was named in UEFA’s top ten female players to watch list alongside starlets such as Wolfsburg’s Lena Oberdorf, 19, and Vicki Becho, 17, of Lyon.
Off the pitch, the forward has been a leading advocate of football’s calls for social media giants to crack down on racist online trolling.
This year the United ace was on the receiving end of horrific abuse on Instagram.
The striker has been urging bosses of Instagram to take tougher action against accounts posting vile racist messages.
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Lauren James and her Man United team-mates will play Everton in their final WSL game of the seasonCredit: Getty
Trolling of players including James has led to a social media blackout by Premier League, EFL and WSL and Women’s Championship sides across the country.
The virtual protest, which began at 3 pm on April 30 and ends at 11:59 pm tonight, saw teams turn off Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
United chief Stoney has personally called out social media boss Mark Zuckerberg for not doing enough to combat social media abuse when trolls attacked James once again on Instagram.
It is hoped the protest will force online giants to take action against bigoted trolling in future.
Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
James and Stoney have called on social media firms to crack down on accounts posting racist abuseCredit: PA
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DANIELLE TURNER has undergone an operation on her calf muscles with the aim of returning to full fitness by the start of the 2021-22 football season.The 29-year old shared the news a day before WSL’s stars’ mass boycott of social and said the procedure has been recommended by doctors.
Danielle Turner has surgery to ease blood flow problems in her calves
The Toffees captain, who appeared upbeat after the procedure, will be cheering her team-mates on from the sidelines with Everton facing Man United in their final league game this term.
Turner said: “After a number of consultations, I was advised to have surgery and therefore yesterday I had the procedure to release the popliteal arteries in both my legs.
“My road to recovery starts now and I know I have the best team around me that will help me be fighting fit to go for the start of next season!”
“For now, I will continue to be the team’s number one fan and support the girls in what will hopefully be a positive end to the season.”
Turner was ruled out for the rest of this season after missing Everton’s game against Chelsea in March.
The Warrington-born defender, who rose through the ranks of the Toffees youth side, has been battling with pain in her lower legs over the past few years.
Half-time respites in matches for the player, who spent a season playing in Iceland before a 2014 Everton, would usually help manage the discomfort.
But during Everton’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City in March the painful sensation in her calf forced her off the pitch.
Turner revealed she has been contending with pain in her lower legs for a few years
Everton captain Turner decided to have surgery to help fix the pain problems in both her legs
This situation led to Turner getting herself checked out and doctors diagnosed her with Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome.
The condition means that muscles in Turner’s calves add pressure to the arteries behind her knees, restricting the blood flow to both legs.

The presence of Turner, who made 88 Everton appearances since 2014, was missed by the Toffees who fell to a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
And boss Willie Kirk will be hoping his long-serving skipper can make a full recovery by next season to aid his pursuit of Champions League football.
The Toffees are set to finish this term in fifth place and are currently 12 points behind Casey Stoney’s Red Devils.
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Turner is aiming to be back to full fitness for the start of next season for EvertonCredit: Getty – Contributor
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