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      Fran Kirby can finally end Chelsea’s Champions League drought and should be a shoo-in for the Ballon d’Or

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      IT IS Fran Kirby’s world and we’re just living in it.There was no better occasion than a League Cup final on Mother’s Day for Kirby to remind us just how far she has come.
      Fran Kirby helped Chelsea snap up the Conti Cup last weekCredit: Getty
      She scored and pointed to the sky as a poignant tribute to her mum Denise, while helping Chelsea cruise to a 6-0 victory over Bristol City at Wembley last Sunday.
      The strike sensation was also wearing the No 14 shirt to mark June 14 — her mum’s birthday.
      Denise tragically passed away in 2008 of a brain haemorrhage when Kirby was only 14-years-old.
      The striker has bravely spoken about how the grief hit her a few years later during an England training camp and eventually she quit football while battling depression.
      Gradually, she fell back in love with the game through her mate’s Sunday League team.
      Kirby celebrated every goal she scored in the local park the same way she does now in front of millions of people.
      But it’s the unseen side of her life that prepared her to be the superstar she is now and unlocked her potential, on the field and off.
      She has helped fire the Blues into the Champions League quarter-finals, with their first-leg clash against Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
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      In my eyes, there is no doubt she should win the next Ballon d’Or. I watched her against Everton and she was the bright spark.
      The former Reading ace is also on track to star for Team GB and England at next year’s home Euros.
      I remember her first England call-up under Mark Sampson and it was no surprise she was dubbed the “mini Messi” during her first World Cup, aged 21, in 2015.
      An in-form Kirby could be the difference in England finally ending years of hurt, having NEVER lifted a major trophy.
      In my eyes, there is no doubt she should win the next Ballon d’Or. I watched her against Everton on Wednesday and she was the bright spark.
      Kirby was the one who picked up the pieces when Melanie Leupolz missed a first-minute penalty.
      The pint-sized forward netted the opener when the team looked wounded and rattled.
      She only recently recovered from a rare condition called pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart.
      She learned of her diagnosis in November 2019 and was told she may never play football again.
      Kirby shot to fame with hometown club ReadingCredit: PA:Press Association
      The forward was on scintillating form in the recent win over EvertonCredit: Getty
      The condition also left her unable to do the most basic of tasks, like walking up the stairs.
      Just over a year later she became Chelsea’s all-time top scorer — passing 68-goal Eniola Aluko — and I couldn’t be prouder of my mate.
      She has been hitting the net with her eyes closed this term and is the second highest scorer with 12 goals and seven assists.
      Emma Hayes has a star-studded Blues attack, with some of the world’s best strikers.
      Pernille Harder arrived in the summer to slot in alongside Australian superstar Sam Kerr and Beth England.
      While Kirby was on the sidelines recovering from her heart condition, some thought there may not be a place for her in the starting XI among those heavyweights.

      But she has silenced the critics and the four of them are working in perfect harmony.
      Manager Hayes is desperate to end Chelsea’s Champions League trophy drought.
      And in my eyes, Kirby can be the one to finally make it happen this year.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Chelsea ace Ji So-yun becomes first female co-president of the Korea Pro-Footballer’s Association

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      JI SO-YUN has been appointed the first female co-president of the Korean Pro-Footballer’s Association.So-yun, 30, will lead the organisation alongside veteran men’s national team player Lee Keun-Ho.
      Chelsea star Ji So-yun has been named the first female co-president of the KPFACredit: Reuters
      The decision by the KPFA makes them the first player union officially led by a male and female.
      The Chelsea maestro said she hopes to use the role to “develop” Korean football.
      She said: “The KPFA, as a member of FIFPRO, underlines that players should not be distinguished by gender.
      “I hope to establish a platform where we can think of ways to develop Korean football and protect player rights for both men and women.”
      So-yun was given the role to help promote gender equality in South Korean football.
      Breaking barriers isn’t new to So-yun, who became the first foreign player to make 100 appearances in the WSL last December.
      She has also won several accolades during her time with the Blues since joining in 2013.
      In 2015, So-yun was named PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, and made the PFA WSL team of the year.

      Last year, she was nominated for the Fifa Best Women’s Player award but missed out to Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze.
      But the Korean star wasn’t done yet, and was named in the Fifa Pro World’s Best XI, which she lauded on Instagram.
      She has won several WSL titles with Chelsea, and the Blues are in pole position to add another to their tally this season.
      So-yun said she hopes to use her role to push forward Korean footballCredit: Getty
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      Roman Abramovich says Chelsea Women are a ‘critical’ part of the club and feels other teams should follow suit

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      ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has hailed Chelsea Women team and revealed how important they are to the club.The Blues owner said he feels the women’s side are “critical” to his side and help to shape their identity.
      Roman Abramovich invited Hayes and women’s side to Israel last summer, having not watched the men play in over a year
      Chelsea owner Abramovich has trusted Hayes with the women’s side for NINE years
      He also said he was baffled by why other clubs don’t feel the same way and give their women’s team maximum support.
      In an interview with Forbes, he said: “Chelsea Women is a critical part of Chelsea and shapes who we are as a club.
      “I see no reason why clubs wouldn’t want to support women’s football and provide the best possible opportunity for them to succeed.”
      The women’s game has been on the rise exponentially around the globe in the last few years, which Abramovich is privy to.
      Last month, Chair of Women in Football, Ebru Koksal claimed that women’s football will be worth the same as most men’s sport by 2030.
      And Abramovich also agrees, stating that the if both sexes had the equal amount of exposure, there’s no doubt that the business opportunities will be the same.
      He continued: “For me, this is both about the principle, but, also, women’s football has huge potential.
      The Russian billionaire believes that the women’s game would receive the same business deals as men’s of given same exposureCredit: AFP

      “If women’s football received the same level as support as men’s football, the sport would obviously be equally successful on the business side.”
      The Blue’s women’s side were formed in the second year of Abramovich’s reign and he has seen them go from strength to strength.
      Emma Haye’s side have won a slew of trophies since then and are en-route to potentially winning the Champions League this season, which has eluded them previously.
      But unfortunately, Abramovich has had to miss out on witnessing their meteoric ascent in person due to visa issues.
      Despite these difficulties, he claims he remains committed to the Blues and their future.
      He added: “The ambitions are as true now as they were when I first became owner and I hope that can be seen through the work we have been doing on and off the pitch over the last 17 years.”
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      Everton ‘to sign’ Icelandic teen stopper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir this summer

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      EVERTON are reportedly set to sign goal-keeper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir from Icelandic outfit Fylkir on a four-year deal.Runarsdottir, 17, will join the Toffees in July when she turns 18 for an undisclosed fee, according to Goal.com.
      Runarsdottir will reportedly join the Toffees in the summerCredit: Getty
      The Icelandic national is currently on loan at Swedish club KIF Orebro where she will stay until summer, Goal also claim.
      Everton seem to keeping the deal under wraps, and neither club nor player have announced the move yet.
      Runarsdottir’s career has been on a steady rise since she began playing football at 13.
      She started out at Afturelding and helped them win the Second Division title before joining the Urvalsdeild, Iceland’s top-flight with Fylkir.
      Her career took off while she was at the club, and she was named the league’s Young Player of the Year in 2020.
      She also won her first international cap in 2020, after receiving her first senior call up the previous year.
      Willie Kirk’s move for the wonder-kid to bolster his squad comes a week after his number-one stopper Sandy MacIver signed a new deal with the club.

      MacIver stated that the Toffees ambition to break into the WSL top four was one of the main reasons she decided to stay.
      She said: “The Champions League is where we want to be. I really believe the foundations are in place to do that.
      “I don’t see why we can’t break into that top three or four in the WSL and cement ourselves as a top side in Europe.”
      Everton seem to be keeping the deal under wraps and have not yet announced the moveCredit: Reuters
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      FA rule out replay and hand Tottenham 3 points for postponed Birmingham game after club defied orders to cancel match

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      THE FA have awarded Tottenham three points and ruled out a replay for their postponed WSL game against Birmingham in January.The Blues cancelled the clash due to a player shortage caused by Covid and injuries.
      Spurs have been awarded three points after Birmingham cancelled their game in JanuaryCredit: PA
      Despite their plight, the FA told them not to cancel the game but they went ahead with the decision to do so.
      Last week and independent tribunal ruled that the game will not be replayed and Spurs will be given the victory for the breach.
      A statement by the FA read: “The FA can confirm that an Independent Tribunal has determined that Birmingham City’s unfulfilled fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in The FA WSL on 10 January 2021 will not be replayed and three points will be awarded to Tottenham Hotspur.
      “The tribunal found that Birmingham breached competition rule 11.3.18, which outlines ‘the failure to fulfil an engagement.’ 
      “As a result, Tottenham Hotspur have been awarded the victory”
      The tribunal’s decision will be a shock to Blues manager Carla Ward who was confident of a replay.
      At the time, she said: “I would expect the outcome for us to be our game being rescheduled. 
      The Blues cancelled the game due to injuries and Covid issues despite the FA saying they wanted the game to go aheadCredit: PA

      “To be honest, I would have been happy to go there with ten players. 
      “That’s just the sort of manager I am and I think the players were quite content with going there with ten players and to be honest part of me wishes we did. 
      “But from a welfare point of view, the club doctor and I had lengthy discussions and as much as I didn’t want to (call off the game) it probably was the right decision. 
      “But that decision wouldn’t have been taken if I thought there would be even a two per cent chance that we wouldn’t get to replay that game.
      “So I’m fully confident that it will be replayed.”
      The points will be a big boost for Spurs who languish in eight place in the league, just four points behind Reading.
      They come up against bottom-placed Bristol City tomorrow who will be desperate for a win as they battle for WSL survival.
      Carla Ward was confident the game would be replayedCredit: Alamy
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      Arsenal boss Montemurro aims to avenge loss to Stoney’s Man United in battle for Champions League spot

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      JOE MONTEMURRO has warned Arsenal cannot take their remaining games lightly as their fight for a Champions League spot heats up.And the Gunners are looking to turn the tables on Man United when the teams go head-to-head. 
      Montemurro says Arsenal are looking to make Borehamwood a fortess when they take on Man UnitedCredit: Getty
      Montemurro, 51, was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash on home turf with Casey Stoney’s Manchester outfit.
      The last encounter between the opponents ended in a 1-0 win for United with Montemurro describing the performance of his side as “poor”. 
      And the Arsenal chief is wary of being on the wrong end of a shock loss with tricky duels with Brighton and Everton to come.
      Montemurro said: “This run is not just hinged on this game. There are a lot of games still to play and a lot of teams that could potentially unlock us.
      “That’s why my focus has been to make sure that if any team is going to beat us, it’s going to be teams that are at our level or fighting with us.
      “Sustainability and consistency in a league that is so short is critical and crucial.
      “I don’t know if it’s revenge but there is a real positivity at the moment.
      “Last time (against United) we knew we let ourselves down, technically and tactically, silly errors and mistakes in a game that we should have come away with something. 
      “We know we let ourselves down and the club down that day. 
      “Now being at Borehamwood we want to make sure we keep it as a fortress and we keep winning games there.” 
      Arsenal will be going for a win after suffering a 1-0 away defeat to United in NovemberCredit: Getty

      The Red Devils are third and six points ahead of the North London giants who have a game in hand.
      And Casey Stoney, who has contended with injuries to several players, has been boosted by the return of defender Kirsty Smith and striker Lauren James. 
      But the team will be without the services of Brazil starlet Ivana Fuso, 20, who damaged her ankle in a freak accident. 
      Stoney, 38, said: “When she went down on Tuesday, I had my head in my hands, 
      “I just couldn’t believe it. One player slipped, bumped into her and she rolled her ankle. 
      “For her on a personal level, it has been so difficult.  Let’s not forget, she’s not English speaking, she’s away from home in COVID times and can’t go home
      “She has been out the entire season with three different injuries, but Ivana is a fantastic young player with a great mentality. 
      “We’ll work hard with her during this time to make sure that we give her every opportunity to be in the best position for Olympics selection for Brazil.”
      Stoney, whose side will play at Old Trafford for the first time next month, hopes to make history by securing a Women’s Champions League spot with the team. 
      The Red Devils will be without Ivana Fuso who has picked up an ankle injuryCredit: Getty
      Should they finish inside the WSL’s top 3 the Red Devils will compete in Europe’s elite football club competition for the first time in their existence. 
      And Stoney said she would consider it a “failure” for her personally if her side were to miss out on a place in the contest. 
      Stoney added: “For me as a head coach, I would see that as a failure. 
      “But I would never say my players fail because they give 100% effort all the time.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Casey Stoney and her players are battling to qualify for next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters
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      Man United ace vows to bounce back from injury woes for Champions League chase

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      ALESSIA RUSSO has vowed to let her football “do the talking” as she targets a return to Manchester United and England action.The WSL ace is one of seven squad members who have been battling with injuries that have left Casey Stoney’s ranks depleted.
      Alessia Russo is eager to help Manchester United qualify for next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Russo, 22, was speaking to talkSPORT 2’s Women’s Football Weekly Show ahead of United’s upcoming tussle with Arsenal.  
      Stoney’s side, who are third, are six points ahead of the Gunners who have a game in hand.
      Both sides are vying for a spot in next term’s Champions League with only the top three WSL teams eligible to qualify.  
      Should United finish third they will reach the top football competition for women’s clubs in Europe for the first time in their history. 
      Russo told talkSPORT 2: “We set targets at the start of the season and our target was that we wanted to get into the Champions League. 
      “It’s our second season in the league and I think we’re confident we can do that and that’s been the goal throughout the season and what we’ve been working towards in every session and in every game.
      “We started the season in great form and we’ve been going well, but we’ve still got a massive end to the season. 
      “It’s so close at the top of the table, so it will be a really exciting end to the season for women’s football.”
      Russo is on the brink of making a comeback for United following an operation on a hamstring injury in November 2020Credit: Getty

      Russo, who switched from Brighton to Man United in August 2020, has been earning praise for her performances in the team’s attack. 
      The England starlet, who spent the 2016-17 season at Chelsea before moving to Albion, has netted 3 goals in four WSL games for United this term.
      And one of her efforts was against the Seagulls when they lost 3-0 to Stoney’s aces in October. 
      But after picking up a hamstring injury in training that required surgery in November, Russo has been out of action. 
      However, the Maidstone-born striker is reportedly on the verge of making a comeback. 
      Russo’s United team-mates are due take on Arsenal away in their 17th WSL game this termCredit: Getty
      Russo added: “Injuries are not nice for anyone but it’s part of football, unfortunately. It was a massive learning curve for me.  
      “I learnt a lot about my body, what works and what doesn’t work and I also tried to focus on how I could best support the girls in other ways rather than being on the pitch, which, unfortunately, wasn’t possible.
      “It’s been quite a long process, but one I take day-by-day. I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch and being better than I was.”
      This week United have been boosted by the return of Scotland defender Kirsty Smith and England striker Lauren James’ recovery from a quad strain.
      Right now, my priority is to get back on the pitch for United and hopefully let that do the talkingAlessia Russo
      Other players missing through injuries include Leah Galton and Ivana Fuso who have both been sidelined with ankle problems. 
      Meanwhile, Tobin Heath is targeting an April return following ankle damage with her USA team-mate Christen Press missing United’s win against Aston Villa as a precaution. 
      Russo, who made her senior England debut at the SheBelieves Cup in February 2020, hopes to get back to her best for club and country. 
      United have been boosted by the return of Lauren James ahead of their trip to ArsenalCredit: PA
      Russo said: “In the front line, everyone is in great form for their clubs and have been doing so well.
      “There was the international friendly weeks ago where we got a great result against Northern Ireland and I think, yes, I would love to get myself back in the England squad.
      “Right now, my priority is to get back on the pitch for United and hopefully let that do the talking.
      “It’s been a long time out and I just can’t wait to be back playing with the United girls.” 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Brighton boss Powell praises ‘unsung hero’ Whelan and urges players to keep pressure on rivals

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      HOPE POWELL hailed Aileen Whelan’s “scrappy” performances for Brighton who are targeting a fourth win since beating Chelsea.And the Albion boss warned her players not to take their foot off the gas with the team aiming to leapfrog Reading.
      Brighton boss Hope Powell wants her players to maintain their unbeaten runCredit: PA
      Powell was speaking ahead of her side’s clash with Aston Villa who are third from bottom and battling to avoid relegation. 
      The Seagulls head coach wants her team to maintain the form that saw them end the champions’ 33-game unbeaten run. 
      And the former Lionesses chief says Brighton – who finished ninth last term – are pushing for a higher spot in the table this season. 
      Powell, 54, said: “I think Inessa (Kaagman) summed it up when she was interviewed after our win against Tottenham. 
      “Now we can start to look up (the table) as opposed to looking down
      “But we want to look up and jump higher, that’s our position.
      “We want to keep improving, picking up points, winning where we can and not losing where we can.
      “So nobody’s taking their foot off the gas. I will not allow it and the players don’t want to do that. 
      “I think they’ve really got the bit between their teeth and just want to do well and keep improving and that’s the most important thing.” 
      Powell, who won the WSL Manager of the Month Award for February, has overseen an impressive turnaround in Albion’s form.
      The Seagulls hope to leapfrog Reading who are sixth in the WSLCredit: Jeff Mood/phcimages.com

      The team have won three matches on the bounce since their defeat away at Bristol in January. 
      The results follow a winless six-game run that saw the Seagulls collect just a point between December 2020 and the end of January. 
      Powell praised her side for showing their “resilience” by bouncing back with wins Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham.  
      And the Brighton boss believes Aileen Whelan – who has netted twice in the Seagulls’ last three games – deserves credit for her performances.
      Whelan has made 53 Albion appearances since moving to the club from Everton in 2017. 
      The Stafford-born forward, 29, was beaten to this month’s WSL Player of the Month by Man City ace Lucy Bronze. 
      Powell praised “unsung hero” Aileen Whelan for her scrappy work in Brighton’s attackCredit: Jeff Mood/phcimages.com
      Powell told SunSport: “Aileen would continue running if she had a broken leg.
      “She will do the hard jobs, the scrappy jobs and will run her legs off. 
      “She probably covers more ground than any player, but more importantly, she scores goals. 
      “She throws herself at anything, can score goals – quite often scrappy ones -but she scores.
      “I think she probably goes under the radar quite a bit so it’s quite nice to see that she was nominated for Player of the Month. 
      “In my view – I would be very biased –  it’s a shame she didn’t win it.”
      Brighton, who travel to Aston Villa, have won their last two matches away at the Villans’ home ground. 
      However, the last clash between the sides in November ended in a 2-0 home loss. 
      And Powell is expecting her side to face a stern test at Bescot Stadium. 
      Powell reckons the Seagulls cannot afford to underestimate Mana Iwabuchi and Aston VillaCredit: Getty
      Powell added: ‘We can’t be under a delusion that they’re not decent. They will work. 
      “We lost to them at home which was very disappointing for us, but credit to them. 
      “They’ve got a couple of new players including Mana Iwabuchi who is a world-class talent.
      “It’s not going to be easy. They’re new to the league and want to stay in the league. We’re expecting a fight and we will have to be ready for that.”
      Hope Powell won February’s WSL Manager of the Month award
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