Claire Rafferty column: Man City will be our first really big test

By

Claire Rafferty of Chelsea Ladies

Hi and welcome to my first West London Sport column of the season.

It’s been an eventful few weeks – the team have made a great start but recently I’ve been out with a minor injury. I’m pleased to say though that I’m now fit to return.

Stop-start beginning
I could have just carried on playing but it made sense to rest it and make sure it’s right. It’s frustrating because I am injured but not really injured! I am spending more time around the training ground than when I am fit at the moment.

Pre-season went really well, but then being away with England it was a bit stop-start and having the injury I got on the hard ground is just a bit frustrating. But I should be completely fine by the time we play our next game.”

FA Cup benchmark
Sunday’s FA Cup game against Manchester City will be our first real big test of the season. They – along with Arsenal – will be one of the biggest challengers. They took time to settle last season but came on strong at the end when they adjusted and they have also added to their squad. Liverpool look strong too; there is plenty of quality in the league.

It should be a cracking game. We have home advantage and are used to playing on a tighter pitch and I am sure there will be a big crowd there.

We have had three decent victories, but they were all games we were expected to win. Two FA Cup wins have set up the game against City and both were pretty routine. But in the first league game Doncaster did give it a good go in the second half after I scored an own goal to get them back in the game.

Own goal – and own phone goal
I managed to score a couple of own goals in the Champions League last season so after scoring another one against Doncaster, I really don’t want to get a reputation for it.

The ones against Wolfsburg were pretty unfortunate but I don’t really know what I was trying to do with the last one! I won’t be making that mistake again. I can’t promise I will never score an own goal again but I certainly won’t be doing that. It was a bad one.

The only saving grace was that I dropped my phone down the toilet a couple of weeks back so I missed out on any grief I may have got. After winning 4-1 the own goal suddenly didn’t seem so costly, but if the league goes down to goal difference I will be inconsolable.

carney

Karen Carney – another game-changer 
I’ve known Kaz for a long time. We were at the same university together at Loughborough. Although she is a bit older than me, our time crossed over by a couple of years so I know her really well. We get on great and it’s brilliant to have her here.

She is obviously a wonderful talent – a real game-changer. Now she is at Chelsea I really think she is at a club that can get the best out of her ability. She has access to all the best facilities and is part of a really strong squad that can challenge for trophies. It’s a really good fit.”

Scaring defenders 
It’s quite scary now to see the attacking players we have. As defenders we basically know that if we keep a clean sheet, we will win the game because we are so dangerous going forward.

We have options for all situations, with pace and quality everywhere. And in Kaz and Ji we have two amazing talents. The fans are right to be excited about watching our attacking players.

Claire Rafferty will be continuing her regular column for West London Sport throughout the 2016 season.

Tickets for Chelsea Ladies’ FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Sunday 17 April are on sale now, priced £5 for adults and £2 for juniors and seniors.

The game kicks off at 2pm and you can purchase your tickets by clicking here.

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