Women’s Super League

SAM KERR holds no grudges towards doubters who criticised her early Chelsea performances – and says they can post her a bottle of wine.  And the Blues goal machine reckons her team’s “electric” attacking form could give them the edge against Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final. 
Sam Kerr has proved her doubters wrong with her clinical form for ChelseaCredit: Getty
Kerr and her team-mates hope to win their first Women’s Champions League trophy this termCredit: Rex
Kerr, 27, was speaking to reporters ahead of the WSL champs’ clash in Sweden with the queens of women’s football in Spain.
The game on Sunday comes a week after the striker stormed her way to the top of the WSL’s goalscoring table, bagging 21 goals in 22 top-flight games.
And Kerr’s outstanding form marks a turnaround for the forward who came in for flack for chances squandered during Chelsea’s Community Shield triumph against Manchester City last August. 
When asked what she would say to doubters Kerr said: “People get paid to write headlines and all that stuff and they’ve obviously got it wrong this time. 
“I don’t have anything to say. They can just send me a bottle of wine in the mail as an apology.
“The season has been long and there have been so many ups and downs.
“But winning titles just makes it all worth it. So it’s not all roses and butterflies for sure, but at the end of the day I do it because I love it. 
“There are hard days but I do enjoy it for the most part.”
Chelsea will wear their new 60s-inspired kit in their clash with BarcelonaCredit: Instagram / @chelseafc

Chelsea, who will don their new 60s-inspired kit against Barca, are targeting a quadruple and their first-ever major club trophy win in Europe. 
Kerr’s formidable partnership with team-mates Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder has played a big part in helping the Blues reach the Champions League final.
The trio netted 16 times for boss Emma Hayes in the run-up to their battle with Barcelona.
The WSL top dogs dispatched Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, two of the most feared teams in Europe. 
Kerr added: “Fran’s clearly shown she is one of the best players in the world. 
“She does it week in and week out for our team. Our connection is just special.
“Everyone asks me if we train like it but it just comes naturally. 
“She’s just a superstar. I can’t speak more highly of her.”
Kerr and Kirby hope to be on target against Barcelona with the duo scoring nine goals in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
Chelsea will face a Barcelona side in red hot form having netted 128 goals in 26 games on their way to their sixth La Liga Women’s title. 
And Barca are yet to triumph in the Champions League having reached the finals once in 2019, where they were thrashed 4-1 by Lyon. 
Kerr reckons the Blues’ clinical finishing and ruthlessness on the counter could work in their favour.  
The clash on Sunday will see Kirby and Jennifer Hermoso – the contest’s joint top scorers – go head-to-head for the contest’s Golden Boot, with both on six goals.
The Matildas captain added: “Looking at our team we’re electric going forward.
“I think on the counter-attack we’re six to the creek so I think that’s going to work in our favour against Barcelona.
“They’re a quality team so we’ll definitely have to have a look at them in-depth and we’ll focus on ourselves.
“But we also have to respect their strengths and weaknesses.”
Chelsea will face a Barcelona side who have scored 128 goals in Spain’s top-flight this termCredit: Getty
Helping Chelsea reach their first final of a contest for Europe’s elite women’s football sides is another big milestone for Kerr, following her 2019 switch from Chicago Redstars.  
The six-time Golden Boot winner still holds the all-time scoring record in America’s National Women’s Soccer League, with 77 goals, and Australia’s W-League (70).
And Kerr feels her move to Chelsea has given her the opportunity to develop her game at a club she describes as the best she has ever played for.  
We’ve got players like new Niamh Charles and Melanie Leupolz who have taken the team to a new levelSam Kerr
Kerr added: “The USA suited who I am as a player and coming here I’ve had to adapt and I think that’s mostly how I’ve grown as a player. 
“It was to challenge myself doing things that I’m not as confident doing. 
“As a team we’ve had so many amazing recruits in the last year and gone from strength to strength.
Kerr reckons players such as Niamh Charles have helped Chelsea step up a gear this seasonCredit: Getty
“We’ve got players like Niamh Charles and Melanie Leupolz who have taken the team to a new level. 
“This team is incredibly talented and it’s hard to make the starting line-up. 
“We’re pushing each other and I feel like this is probably the best Chelsea team I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely the best team I’ve ever been a part of.”
Kerr, Ji So-yun and their Blues team-mates hope to win the quadruple this yearCredit: Prime Media
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MATT BEARD hopes to restore Liverpool Women to their former glory after announcing his return as the club’s manager. The former West Ham gaffer is back in Merseyside six years after leaving the team to coach US club Boston Breakers before spells with the Irons and Bristol City. 
Matt Beard is hoping to lead Liverpool back to the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: Rex
Liverpool finished third in the Women’s ChampionshipCredit: Getty
And the ex-interim Robins boss beat 160 applicants to the top job to manage the former WSL giants. 
Beard, 43, said: “When you are working here and living and breathing it and what the football club means to the city and its fans, I’ve experienced that from the success we had in my first period here
“My family and I loved our time in Liverpool and we’re really looking forward to going back 
“My memories from before are nothing but great memories and they’ll always live with me.
“But it’s about what I do this time around and getting the team back into the (Women’s) Super League. 
“One thing I can promise the football club and the fans is that I will work as hard as I can to get us back into the (Women’s) Super League.
“I’ve come here to get the team promoted, it’s not going to be easy and it’s probably going to be the toughest Championship season ever.
“But we have a good core group here and the infrastructure is there.
“It’s about recruiting the right players to improve the team and making sure we have one common goal as a group to achieve what we want to achieve.”
Beard first took up the reins at Liverpool back in 2012 leading them to back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. 
Beard led Liverpool to successive WSL title wins in 2013 and 2014Credit: Getty

And the Roehampton-born coach led the club on their first Women’s Champions League campaign in 2015 before departing for managerial spells at Boston Breakers, West Ham and Bristol between 2016 and 2021.
Liverpool had been without a permanent manager since Vicky Jepson resigned from the role in January.
And Jepson’s assistant Amber Whiteley has been serving as interim boss leading the club to a third place finish in the second tier of the women’s game.
The club’s chiefs hope Beard can lead them back to the top-flight following their relegation to the Women’s Championship in the 2019-20 season. 
Their board members said: “We know him (Matt) particularly well from his highly successful previous spell with the club and have followed his progress closely.
“But this is an appointment for the future. We believe Matt’s experience and know-how can help the club in our quest to return to the Women’s Super League. 
“Much hard work lies ahead and we believe Matt is ideally placed to lead that journey.
“The future of the women’s game looks incredibly bright and we want to be right at the heart of it.”
Liverpool are targeting a return to the top-flight of the women’s game after being relegated in the 2019-20 seasonCredit: Getty
Beard enjoyed a stint in the NWSL managing Boston Breakers from 2016-2017 before returning home to take charge of West Ham in 2018 and leading them to the Women’s FA Cup Final in 2019. 
The Reds gaffer left the Hammers at the end of 2020 by mutual consent before joining Bristol City as interim boss in January. 
Beard steered the Robins to a Conti Cup final and two wins from his first five games in charge. 
But the Twerton Park team have dropped into the Women’s Championship after drawing three and losing four of their last seven WSL games. 
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Liverpool Women had been without a permanent manager since Vicky Jepson’s departure in January 2020Credit: PA
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CASEY STONEY has resigned as Manchester United Women’s boss days after her team narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot.   Stoney’s surprise resignation comes almost two months after she said she would consider it a “personal failure” to miss out on the contest.  
Casey Stoney has resigned manager of Man United’s Women’s Super League sideCredit: Getty
Stoney is reported to be on the radar of NWSL clubs in the United StatesCredit: PA
The former centre-back, 38, has been at the helm of the Red Devils since June 2018 following the team’s reestablishment in March that year. 
And the ex-England skipper led the team to a swift promotion to the WSL from the Championship in 2019 achieving successive fourth-place finishes in two seasons. 
The Telegraph reports Stoney, who began her journey as a footballer at the age of 12 at Chelsea, is thought to have been displeased with the training conditions for her side in recent months. 
It is also thought clubs from around the world – including the top-flight women’s sides in the USA – are interested in the straight-talking United gaffer. 
And The Athletic claims the WSL boss is in talks to head up an NWSL expansion team in San Diego.
Stoney, whose team are due to face newly-promoted Leicester City in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round, said opting to stand down had been an ‘incredibly tough decision’. 
The club is yet to confirm whether the former Chelsea player-manager will take charge to the side during their clash with the Foxes.
In an official club statement, Stoney said: “It has been an honour to lead the women’s team at this great club and this has been an incredibly tough decision. 
“Having come on board to start the team from scratch, then winning the Women’s Championship in our first season, we have now successfully established the team as a force in the Women’s Super League. 
“I have loved leading this group and I am proud of what we have achieved together.
“However, after a difficult season with the disruption caused by the pandemic, I now feel the time is right to take some time away and for someone else to come in and lead the team on the next stage of its journey. 
“I want to thank the club, all of the fantastic staff, the fans, and most of all the players, for the incredible experience we have shared over the past three years.”
Casey Stoney led Man United to promotion to the Women’s Super League within two years of the club being reformed in 2018Credit: Getty

United chief executive Ed Woodward added: “Casey has been a driving force behind that success since she joined us in 2018.
“She has been an inspiration to her players and staff, fans, and to all of us.
“I know I speak for everyone in thanking her for her unstinting hard work and dedication and paying tribute to her achievements.”
The Red Devils’ match with the Foxes on Sunday will be the club’s final game this term with Women’s FA Cup competition resuming again next season. 
The team, whose players include England stars Ella Toone, Katie Zelem and Millie Turner, finished just a point behind third-placed Arsenal in the top tier.
And the Gunners’ top three finish saw them bag the WSL’s last remaining Women’s Champions League qualifying spot.  
United have struggled with injuries to several first-team players this season including  Alessia Russo, Leah Galton and US superstar Tobin Heath. 
Man United are due to play Leicester in the Women’s FA Cup fifth roundCredit: Getty
But while the club endured losses to Reading, Man City and Arsenal in February and March, they won six of their last games across all competitions keeping clean sheets. 
Prior to coaching Stoney enjoyed a stellar 19-year playing career representing Arsenal, Charlton, Chelsea and Liverpool between 1999 and 2018. 
The former Lionesses ace, who captained Team GB women’s football team at the London 2012 Game
And the former Lionesses defender began her coaching career at Chelsea in 2009 before joining Phil Neville’s England backroom team in 2018 and then becoming Man United Women’s boss.
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Manchester United will be hoping to qualify for the Women’s Champions League in the 2021-2022Credit: Getty
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ANIEK NOUWEN has become Chelsea’s newest addition with Emma Hayes looking to boost her defensive options ahead of the 2021-22 season. The PSV Eindhoven star sealed a three-year pre-contract deal with the four-time WSL champions which will keep her at the club until the summer of 2024. 
Aniek Nouwen has agreed to a move from PSV Eindhoven to WSL champions ChelseaCredit: Getty
Nouwen signed a three-year pre-contract with the Blues which will run until 2024
Nouwen, 22, who has 14 Netherlands Women’s international caps, made her professional debut for PSV in 2016.  
And the highly-rated defender has made more than 100 appearances for the Women’s Eredivisie giants netting 15 goals. 
Blues boss Hayes reckons Nouwen’s physical strength on the ball will make her well-suited to battling Chelsea’s rivals in the WSL next term. 
Hayes, 44, said: “Not only does Aniek bring a wealth of league and international experience for her age, but she is also very composed on the ball and her physicality will certainly suit the English league.
‘I have no doubt she is one of the best young defenders in the world and has a very bright future ahead of her with us.
“We cannot wait to welcome her to Cobham this summer. She really is an exciting addition to our squad.”
Nouwen added: “To play in the English league has always been a dream for me as it is the best competition and it provides the best opportunity for me to develop even more. 
“There were other clubs who were interested, but I made my decision to join Chelsea pretty quickly.  
“I’m very honoured and proud to become a Blue and I can’t wait to be a part of this winning team. I want to win prizes and play in the big games.
 “I’m looking forward to joining up with the team, it’s all going to be very new but I’m really excited.”

Chelsea, who will push for a fifth WSL title next term, are going head-to-head with Barcelona in their first-ever Champions League final on May 16. 
Meanwhile, Nouwen and her PSV team-mates are battling for the top spot in the Eredivisie play-offs. 
And PSV are due to take on Den Haag for the Dutch Women’s FA Cup in June after beating Ajax 1-0 in the semi-finals. 
Nouwen, who made her senior Netherlands debut against Poland in 2019, has become a key member of Sarina Wiegman’s squad making 14 international appearances. 
The versatile defender was part of her country’s youth sides at the 2018 and 2017 Women’s Under-19 World Championships reaching the contest’s semi-final stages in 2017.
Emma Hayes looking to strengthen her defensive ranks with Chelsea targeting a fifth WSL title next seasonCredit: Getty
Nouwen, who plays for the senior team alongside WSL stars including Vivianne Miedema and Danielle van de Donk, netted her first international goal against Estonia. 
And that 7-0 win against the European minnows – ranked the 106th best team in the world – helped the Netherlands reach the Women’s 2022 Euros. 
The PSV star is also hoping to represent her country at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan this year.
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Nouwen says having the chance to play in England has always been ‘a dream’Credit: Getty
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