Sam Kerr Prioritizes Champions League Success In Measured Chelsea Comeback

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Chelsea forward Sam Kerr is taking a careful approach to her recovery from a significant knee injury, aiming to win the Women's Champions League. Kerr, Australia's top goalscorer, has been sidelined since January due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during training. She missed the latter part of Chelsea's Women's Super League and Champions League campaigns and was also absent from Australia's Olympics squad.

Despite her eagerness to return under new Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor, Kerr is not rushing her comeback. "I'm not putting a date on my return, just making sure I get it right and making sure I feel good before I get back on the pitch," Kerr told Optus Sport. "I mean, it's my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it's right and I'm doing everything I can. But definitely no rush for me; I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come."

Bompastor took over from Emma Hayes after Hayes ended her 12-year tenure last season. Although Chelsea achieved significant domestic success under Hayes, they have yet to secure the Champions League title. Bompastor has previously won that trophy with Lyon, and Kerr believes this experience gives Chelsea an advantage they previously lacked.

"We would love to win the Champions League; that's the one we want, that's what we shoot for," said Kerr. "We've fallen short a few years in a row, and hopefully Sonia brings that to this club. We want to win as many trophies as we can—we want to retain the league, get the [domestic] cups back—but the Champions League is the one we're going for this year."

Before her injury last season, Kerr averaged 0.61 goals per 90 minutes from 3.66 shots per 90 minutes, with a conversion rate of 16.67%. However, her goals per 90 were at their lowest since the 2019-20 season, and her expected goals (xG) per 90 (0.46) were also at their lowest during her time at Chelsea.

Kerr signed a new contract with Chelsea earlier this year and will turn 31 on September 10. When asked about her future plans, she said: "This feels like home now. I love it here; I love where I live; I love the girls. We win a lot, so it's nice. I want to end my career, whenever that is, with as many trophies as I can, and I think we can do that [here]."

Upcoming Season Opener

Chelsea will kick off their Women's Super League season against Aston Villa on September 20.