Women’s football

MARC SKINNER reckons claiming the top prize at the World Sevens Football contest could be huge for Manchester United financially. Along with Man City his Red Devils got off to a winning starts on the first day of the women’s seven-a-side tournament yesterday. Celin Bizet was among Man United’s scorers yesterday on the first day of the inaugural World Sevens Football tournamentUnited and Man City are among eight sides battling it out for the contest’s top prize with the winning team set to claim around £1.8million from a £3.76 prize potKerolin, who scored twice for Man City in their 4-0 defeat of FC Rosengard, reckons the style of play of the tournament felt “a little bit Brazilian”In the coastal town of Estoril in Portugal, the two WSL rivals are battling it out with six other European teams competing for the chance to be the contest’s overall victors. The winning side of the inaugural three-day seven-a-side tournament will earn around £1.8million ($2.5m) from a £3.76m ($5m) prize pot. And total prize money for this competition is more than what the victors of this year’s Women Champions League final will win with holders Barcelona up against Arsenal on May 23. Skinner said: “For any team who wins it would do a lot. First and foremost the players are enjoying it and having a good time. Read More Football Stories”If we then get to the point where we can win the prize money then of course that can be huge for us as well.” “But more importantly, the players have to enjoy it and that’s exactly why we were here.”It’s carnage, chaos. You have to allow the players to make decisions themselves. We will learn. The ball is fast, light and the pitch is quick.”Along with Ajax, Roma, Benfica, Bayern Munich, FC Rosengard and Paris Saint-Germain, United and Man City competed in 30 minute matches played two halves of 15 minutes. Most read in FootballTeams are permitted to use unlimited substitutions from the 14 players allowed to be part of their squad for each game. United, who take on Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain today, defeated Roma 3-2 following Man City’s 4-0 triumph over Swedish side FC Rosengard. Aside from being in a seven-a-side format, the pacy, goal-laden matches played at the home of Primera Liga side Estoril Praia, featured a DJ playing live music during the action. And fans being permitted to drink alcohol in the stands during games was another departure from the norms of a Women’s Super League match day.Brazil star Kerolin, who scored twice for City side in their win, reckons the style of play and atmosphere felt a little bit Brazilian. The City forward said: “I think it’s a good opportunity to be myself, especially after I came back from my ACL injury.”I tried to go one-v-one all the time. It’s hard to do that when it’s 11-aside as there’s too much to think (about). “Here I just want to enjoy that and be aggressive. “I liked the music a lot. In Portugal the weather is really nice so everyone is like ‘OK, we like these vibes.’ “Let’s just see how the tournament goes. “Harder games will come. We prepare for that and we just need to wait to see how we perform.”We try. It’s a little bit Brazilian I think. I like the ginga. I just think about getting back those things and being a little bit brave.”The Man City squad selected by interim boss Nick Cushing for the World Sevens features a few of the club’s promising young prospects including Codie Thomas, 18, Poppy Pritchard 19, and Lily Murphy, 19. Anita Asante, who is a member of the tournament’s Players Advisory Council, sees the contest as another platform on which younger players can make their mark. The ex-Lioness, Arsenal and Aston Villa ace said: “There’s room to be creative. Ayemu Oyama, who scored for Man City in their opener, is likely to be in action when her team play Ajax and Bayern Munich today”It also gives players an opportunity to showcase their talent at an elite level that could be unique to the women’s game sport.Read More on The Sun“It’s a fantastic opportunity for clubs to utilise the tournament to give further development and playing opportunities including their younger players.””It might provide the platform for showcasing emerging talent in general.” More

HOMEGROWN Chelsea star Aggie Beever-Jones admits it has sometimes been hard to break away from the academy kid tag.However the striker, 21, has emerged as a key player for the eight-time WSL champions. Aggie Beever-Jones says the chance of playing in an FA Cup final at Wembley for Chelsea would be a dream trueCredit: GettyThe Blues striker hopes to help her side, who have featured in eight finals previously, win the trophy for the sixth timeCredit: GettyBeever-Jones took part in a football coaching session for girls hosted by McDonalds six days before Chelsea’s FA Cup final clash with Manchester UnitedCredit: PALast May Beever-Jones’ old boss Emma Hayes described the player as the future of Chelsea. She has certainly come a long way since Hayes handed her a senior debut during a 4-0 defeat of Aston Villa in January 2021. And, ahead of today’s FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United, she spoke of wanting to be a role model for young stars coming through the ranks.The Blues star said: “I’m proud to have come from the academy.Read More Football Stories“Being that academy kid, I feel like I have that label and sometimes it’s hard to break away from. “I hope that the academy kids know that they can come to me and have an arm around them.It’s something I’m really proud of – being able to play for the club that I’ve watched, grown up playing for and that my family love.”Beever-Jones’s nine top-flight goals contributed to 22 matches played without defeat during their invincible WSL run this season. Most read in FootballWith that milestone complete Beever-Jones has set her sights on another target. That’s starring in an FA Cup final at Wembley for the first time in her career with Chelsea aiming to overcome holders Man United. Sonia Bompastor’s side also lifted the League Cup, meaning victory at Wembley would complete a domestic treble, something that they have not achieved for four years.Beever-Jones added: “Being able to play at Wembley in an FA Cup final would be an absolute dream. “I have never played there for Chelsea. It’s going to be a tough match against Man United.“Being holders, they’ve got a point to prove. They want to retain that and equally we want to bring it back home for us.”With all tickets for today’s clash sold out, a record crowd is expected at the 90,000-capacity stadium for Chelsea’s clash with Marc Skinner’s side. The last cup final clash between both teams at Wembley, in May 2023 attracted a then record crowd of  77,390, the Blues sealing a 1-0 win.United, who trounced Tottenham 4-0 in last year’s decider, are competing in the final for a third year in a row. Among those who hope to see Surrey-born Beever-Jones feature are her family who have supported her rise to the top of the game. A journey that began with her playing grassroots football in a boys’ team in a Sunday Little League in Merton, South London.  The Surrey-born striker adds: “I spent a lot of my childhood just playing in a grass field with my boy best friends. “Then I was lucky enough to get scouted and go into the Chelsea pathway. “My family is such a big part of it including my mum and my sister who is a midwife at the hospital that we were both born at.“I feel really lucky to have had the opportunities I had when I was growing up and get given the opportunity to play football.”Helping girls access opportunities to play football is something Beever-Jones is passionate about. Six days ago she visited the home of seventh tier men’s side Hanwell FC to help coach 100 girls taking part in a McDonalds Fun Football session. She said: “It was so nice to be able to go there  and see the young girls playing football with other girls. “Hopefully it shows the way the game’s going and where it can go.”Beyond a dream end to this term and her hope to help Chelsea add an FA Cup to their League Cup and WSL title triumph, Beever-Jones has hopes of making into England’s squad for this year’s Euros. Last month the striker scored her first senior goal in an England shirt when she came off the bench to turn the ball home in the second half of a 5-0 Nations League defeat of Belgium. But while she has hopes of earning in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad for the Euros in Switzerland, her focus at present is on helping Chelsea win a domestic treble. Beever-Jones added:  “It would be an absolute dream. For me, it’s the aim and I’m just focusing on making Sarina happy and delivering what she wants from me. But we’ve still got one game left to go in the season.  I think we’ve still got one game left to go in the season.While Beever-Jones is has hopes of being named in England’s squad for the Women’s Euros, her focus is on helping Chelsea seal a domestic trophy treble winCredit: Getty”I want to end on a high and hopefully keeping Sonia happy as well. Read More on The Sun“I always say I believe everything will fall into place if you work for it. “I’ve just got to keep training and doing what I can and hopefully, who sees what happens.” More

MELVINE MALARD will be forever grateful to Sonia Bompastor for taking a chance on her.But the Manchester United ace still wants to thwart her former Lyon mentor’s FA Cup dream. Having helped Man United secure a place in next season’s Champions League Melvine Malard is targeting FA Cup glory with the clubCredit: GettyThe France forward enjoyed silverware success with Sonia Bompastor she managed by her at LyonCredit: GettyMalard and her United team-mates hope to win the FA Cup for a second time in a row but have never beaten Chelsea in a Cup final beforeCredit: GettyMalard, 24, worked under Chelsea boss Bompastor for much of her nine seasons at Lyon.The forward came through the ranks under Bompastor’s guidance at the French club before they went on to win two top-flight titles in France and the Champions League together in 2022.But there will be no time for nostalgia in today’s final at Wembley when holders United face WSL champions Chelsea, who are chasing a domestic treble.Malard said: “It’s because of Sonia that I played football in France. Now I’m in England, it’s partly because Sonia took me on and gave me a chance.Read More Football Stories”She was a big boss for Lyon when I was there playing for them. “I’m so excited to play at Wembley against her. “Here in England, the game is so intense and the players are very strong.”Chelsea are the top team in the league with one of my best coaches. “They have got a very good team because they have a very good coach.”Bompastor’s Chelsea’s Invincibles went through the entire 22-game WSL season unbeaten dropping just six points and winning the League Cup too. Most read in FootballThat means the Red Devils are tasked with trying to become the first team to beat them on the domestic stage this term.The Blues’ current run stands at an astonishing 32 matches without defeat, stretching back to 2023-24.Yet Malard is hoping to create her own piece of history as United, who finished third in the league, chase back-to-back FA Cup wins for the first time after thumping Tottenham 4-0 a year ago.She said: “This is the page and history that we need to write. “This is three times in a row we’ve got to the FA Cup final. “Who are the teams doing that right now? “It’s us. But we need to put that in the history and enjoy our football. “This is a year where we’ve also qualified for the Champions League for next season. Now we need to just enjoy this final.””Malard has become a popular member of United’s dressing room since arriving from Lyon last July.And United boss Marc Skinner reckons the France forward’s vibrancy has been key this season.That was on full display when her equaliser in the 2-2 Manchester derby draw at Old Trafford secured United’s place in the Champions League next season.Skinner said: “We all need to embrace our inner Melvine. “She takes on the challenge of what’s ahead of her with this smile and this energy. Man United lifted the Women’s FA Cup for the first time last year when they defeated TottenhamCredit: PA”Melvine has shown a lot more of that this year. Read More on The Sun“Last season she was trying to find out who she was in our team.”But that energy for someone still so young has been a massive driving factor this year.” More

SONIA BOMPASTOR reckons Alexis Ohanian’s decision to buy a stake  in WSL champions Chelsea, is a positive move for the women’s game.And the Blues chief hopes the Reddit co-founder’s move will encourage others to invest in the sport in England. Sonia Bompastor hopes Alexis Ohanian buying a stake in Chelsea will lead to more investment in the WSLCredit: PAThe American businessman’s decision to buy a ten per cent stake has been hailed as a landmark moment for Chelsea WomenCredit: APOhanian is set to be at Wembley to watch Bompastor’s players in action with the Blues hoping to add an FA Cup win to their League Cup and WSL title triumphCredit: ReutersThe France-born coach, 44, was speaking earlier today, a day after The Times reported the internet had entrepreneur purchased a ten per cent stake worth around £20million in their women’s side.Along with tennis legend wife Serena Williams, Ohanian is also an investor in US women’s outfit Angel City. His also the largest shareholder of the National Women’s Soccer League side whose founders include actor and film star Natalie Portman.    The USA-born multimillionaire, 42, and Williams, 43, are due to visit Wembley on Sunday, to watch Chelsea in action against Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final. Read More Football StoriesOf his backing Bompastor said: “That’s really important for the women’s game, but also for England to have someone who invests in a team like Chelsea.”This investment is game-changing for the women’s game, but also for young girls. “We want to be one of the best teams in the world in terms of results on the pitch, but also we want to be a model off the pitch. “We want to make sure when young girls look at our team, they dream of being one of our players for the future.Most read in Football”We want to be the team that shows every other team how you need to perform and how you need to invest in the women’s game. “Hopefully this example will bring some other people who will invest in women’s teams in this league.”Earlier today Ohanian posted a picture via his official account social media platform X featuring a Chelsea shirt.The Blues jersey featured the number 776 on the back in reference to the name of a tech venture capital firm established by the American businessman in September 2020. Today Chelsea Women chief executive Aki Mandhar described Ohanian’s move as a “landmark day” for the team and for women’s football in Europe and beyond. Mandhar added: “This investment is validation of the club’s past success. “More importantly it is yet another proof point in the market of the persistent growth and potential of women’s football. “We continue to lead the way, on and off the pitch, for players and for our fans and brands, empowering and inspiring future athletes and the next generation of sports fans. “As a club, we are unapologetically ambitious. “This investment is proof that the opportunities for growth in the business of women’s football are endless.”When the Chelsea boss was asked her thoughts why Ohanian invested she added: “We are the best. Simple. The results help a lot.”This Sunday Chelsea will attempt to seal a trophy treble win with United targeting back-to-back triumphs following their first Cup final victory last year. Bompastor said: “We know we are facing a really strong team, so we’ll be ready for that.Man United are targeting back-to-back FA Cup wins in their third successive appearance in the contest’s finalCredit: Getty”We feel ready going into this final, but it will be a really special moment.Read More on The Sun”I heard maybe 80,000 tickets were sold. “Just to have the opportunity to play in that stadium in front of an almost sold-out crowd will be the perfect end to a season, if we win.” More

THE husband of tennis legend Serena Williams has purchased a 10 per cent stake in Chelsea Women.Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of social media platform Reddit, has invested £20million in the deal.Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, has bought a 10 per cent stake in Chelsea WomenCredit: GettyOhanian will be fully focussed on the women’s teamCredit: GettyChelsea Women are currently valued at £200m, making them the most expensive women’s team in the world.The Times report that Ohanian will now take a seat on the board, with all of his investment going solely to the women’s team.Williams, who won 23 grand slams in her incredible tennis career, is also set to be engaged in the club.The couple are expected to be at Wembley with their family on Sunday as Chelsea face Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final.READ MORE ON CHELSEASonia Bompastor and Co are hoping to secure the domestic treble having already won the Women’s Super League and the Subway Women’s League Cup.Chelsea officials announced last year that the women’s team would become a separate entity to the men’s.They sold the team to THEMSELVES for around £200m to avoid a Premier League PSR charge.It means that Ohanian’s investment is great news for club owner Todd Boehly.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeThe Reddit founder allegedly views Chelsea and Barcelona as the biggest women’s clubs in Europe.Chelsea went invincible in the WSL this season with 19 wins and just three draws.Chaos at Stamford Bridge as Djurgarden fans jump over barriers and clash in away end against ChelseaThey also became the first team in the league to hit 60 points in a season.However, they missed out on the Champions League after suffering an 8-2 defeat on aggregate to Barcelona in the semi-finals.Chelsea won the WSL title for a sixth straight year earlier this monthCredit: Getty More