Emma Hayes praised “80 per cent match” Sam Kerr after her hat-trick helped Chelsea to a 4-1 Champions League win in opposition to Paris FC at Stamford Bridge.
Kerr has been easing again to health after lacking a lot of the World Cup with harm and has made a modest begin to the Ladies’s Tremendous League season with solely two targets up to now.
However in opposition to Paris she ensured her facet’s European marketing campaign started in earnest following final week’s controversial draw with Actual Madrid, although the outcome had appeared doubtful when the guests levelled via Thea Greboval’s header earlier than half-time.
That cancelled out Kerr’s opener which she had prodded in on the half-hour mark after getting between goalkeeper and defender to show house Lauren James’s excellent right-footed cross.
She added quick-fire targets early within the second interval to place down Paris’ resistance, the primary a far-post end from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s low ball in earlier than an effort that looped over the pinnacle of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Sophie Ingle evaded her marker to roll the ball into the nook in stoppage time so as to add gloss to the scoreline.
And afterwards Hayes revealed she had predicted pre-match that Kerr would lastly rediscover her scoring contact in opposition to the French facet.
“I fancied her to attain a hat-trick tonight,” stated Hayes. “I stated it within the dressing room earlier than the sport. She doesn’t get credit score for all the opposite little bits she does.
“By her requirements she’s not on high, high (health) but, however I don’t know anybody who places the ball away like she does. She’s so alert and decisive along with her motion. Sensible centre-forward play.
“If that’s her at 80 per cent, I’ll take that. That’s not dangerous. I can’t await the hundred per cent to come back.”
Hayes opted to begin with Fran Kirby on the bench with the ahead additionally within the early phases of a return from harm having missed most of final season.
She emerged in the beginning of the second half to play an important position in restoring Chelsea’s lead, taking part in in Rytting Kaneryd down the fitting who crossed for Kerr to slip in her second.
“I price Paris,” stated Hayes. “I felt there’s numerous work you must do over 90 minutes that may have been an excessive amount of for Fran. It’s so essential we hold her wholesome for England and Chelsea.
“Fran needs to play in each second however I believed that was the proper cameo for her. The workforce wants it.
“We had been sloppy within the first half. I believe the video games gathered caught up on us. Folks don’t realise how onerous it’s to maintain going.”
Paris coach Sandrine Soubeyrand mirrored on a courageous efficiency from her workforce in opposition to a facet that many fancy for the Champions League crown.
“I believe possibly we lacked a little bit of effectivity and scientific nature in entrance of aim,” she stated. “I wished the gamers to come back and provides an account of themselves, not a lot occupied with the rating.
“We wished to play, not sit again, and I believe we did that. We had alternatives. I believe we might have performed higher on one of many targets (conceded), however we go away with no regrets.”
