4 months ago
39 ARTICLE AD
Chloe Kelly has refused to comment on the gossip linking the England Women's star with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
But the Man City women forward has revealed her career dream of lifting the Champions League title, having developed a taste for winning trophies.
8
For the Lionesses, she has been instrumental in securing three trophies in the last two years.
Not only did she score the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, she then netted an equally remarkable penalty in England's victory over Brazil in the 2023 Finalissima.
Her penalty kicks again came to the rescue for England during the 2023 Women's World Cup as she secured their place in the last-16 in a nail-biting shootout against Nigeria.
But Kelly's winning penalty was remarkable in more ways than one.
It was measured and found to be more powerful than any other penalty taken in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season.
It is no wonder Manchester City are desperate to keep hold of the winger - but that task looks like it will be easier said than done.
The Daily Mail reported in early February that PSG were prepared to offer Kelly a contract that would make her the highest-paid player in Europe.
But when asked about the suggestion she might be moving to the French club at the end of the season, Kelly refused to give anything away.
8
8
She told talkSPORT: “I’m focusing on Manchester City at the moment. My job at hand is Friday [16 February] playing against Chelsea.
"It’s really important that I focus on my job at Manchester City.”
But the winger did open up about how the last few years of success with the Lionesses had driven her ambitions to carry on winning at the highest levels.
She added: "Once you taste it [success], it makes you even more hungry for it.”
And while Kelly is keen to collect as many titles as she possibly can, there is one trophy in particular which she believes has an extra special shine to it.
“Any silverware that I can get my hands on I’ll be definitely wanting that," she said.
"I want to win a Champions League in my career so, of course, it’s really exciting for me. And the [WSL] is up for grabs this season.”
But winning the Women's Champions League is no mean feat - only one English club has ever done it.
Arsenal won the equivalent of the competition in 2007, back when it was called the UEFA Women's Cup.
PSG, although they have never lifted the trophy, have made it to the final of the Women's Champions League twice.
In 2015, they suffered an agonising lost to Frankfurt in the 92 minute.
8
8
Two years later, it would be similar heartbreak when they lost to Lyon 7-6 on penalties.
However, it has to be said that their Champions League record is far better than Kelly's current club.
Manchester City have never made it further than the semi-final of the competition, and they have not achieved even that since 2018.
Last season, the Citizens did not even qualify for the Champions League as they finished fourth in the WSL - just outside the three designated spaces.
While City certainly look set to at the very least finish in the top three of the WSL this season, it's unlikely they will possess the experience needed to excel in the European competition in the first season back.
PSG, on the other hand, are still in with a shot at Champions League glory this season having just set up a quarter-final clash against BK Hacken.
The French side have been fairly consistent contenders in the European competition and Kelly could well see them as a better bet when it comes to achieving her European cup dream.
For now, though, Kelly's thoughts remain on the WSL - and on a special mural that has been unveiled to honour her.
8
The 2274 square-foot mural in Manchester's Northern Quarter features a depiction of Kelly in her England kit alongside the words: 'More powerful than any shot from last season', in reference to her penalty against Nigeria.
Kelly told talkSPORT she was absolutely delighted with the tribute.
She said: “It’s amazing, to see it today was a great honour. I’m amazed that Doritos have teamed up with me to put this mural in Manchester for all the Mancunians to see - hopefully more City fans!”
She added: “Never did I believe I could achieve being up there and seeing my face up there so I’m very proud and I’m looking forward to showing my family when they come up to watch a game!”
And when asked about her iconic penalty technique, she described how - unlike Lionesses fans - she had approached the moment quite calmly.
She said: “I practise it quite often! It’s a proud moment for me to see those numbers. But I think it’s about training, that moment and really enjoying the moment, as I did.
"It’s a high pressure moment but I trained a lot of penalties in my career, so stepping it up it just felt like another penalty.”
Kelly will be part of the squad that travels to Kingsmeadow to face Chelsea in a fixture which will be crucial in deciding the eventual winners of the WSL.
8
8
City sit just three points behind Chelsea, meaning that a victory for them would throw the title race right open - a win for Chelsea could well seal a fifth-consecutive WSL win for Emma Hayes.
But Kelly insisted that her side were approaching the clash with level heads.
"One game doesn't define the season," said the City star.
"Of course, it's a top game, a top battle against two top teams and it’s amazing to be part of that. The last one didn't disappoint, so hopefully this one is just as good.
“We’ve got a lot of football still to play after this game, but we’re ready come Friday.”
You can tune into talkSPORT's Women's Football Show on Mondays from 7pm on talkSPORT 2.
