The Champions League test that Chelsea faces Barcelona on Wednesday will still go on without their star striker Sam Kerr, who has not been on action since an ACL injury. Although Kerr has been showing good returns in the two goals she had against St Polten last week, the club has not hurried her back and she is not playing in this vital match and the next two matches as well.
The fact that Kerr was not included in the team that played a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday had already given warning in the Chelsea camp. Manager Sonia Bompastor affirmed the Australian is recovering but emphasized on long-term management rather than short-term profit.
“Sam is fine,” Bompastor said. This week she is likely to take the national team. But she’s not available for us. Her reentry is being done in stages.
Chelsea are now heading to Spain with the knowledge that they are going to one of the strongest teams in Europe. Unbeaten in a trio of their previous outings in the Champions League, Barcelona have proven to be merciless before the goal, which is something Bompastor emphasized as a distinguishing factor.
You do not get many opportunities playing Barcelona, she said. “You must be clinical. That is the truth when one is against a high quality team.
The recent concerts of the Blues have not been as sharp as they normally are and with no Kerr to battle it becomes even more difficult. Nevertheless, Bompastor insists that their team is concentrated on recalibration, trying to recover their performance and get going again at a critical point of the season.
