And, of course, I want to inspire people as much as I can. Capitalising on another City mistake, this time from Jen Beattie, Kirby pick the ball up near the halfway line and drove towards the City area before cutting inside and slotting a cool finish past Roebuck in the 74th minute. She went downhill so fast." She kept her diagnosis private and retreated into her shell; all the while, speculation grew on social media over her absence. Informative, passionate, entertaining. The attacking partnership of Kerr and Kirby was a huge factor in being crowned champions of the WSL for a second consecutive season, with the Blues forwards netting a combined total of 37 goals. In the first-ever match between these two female teams in the WSL 1, Chelsea Women defeated Manchester United Women on November 16 thanks to a goal from Mjelde. Position: Defender #18. They beat Manchester City 2-0. Kellys left-sided corner was whipped in with pace to the near post and found the darting run of Aleixandri but the Spaniards clever flick whistled just wide. Even she was starting to doubt herself. She enrolled in Reading's academy at age 7, and at age 16, she made her senior debut. If it was at the more severe end, it could be anything from six months to a year. Forever - orphan_account - Women's Soccer RPF [Archive of Among the goals that night was one that saw each Chelsea defender facing in different directions when the ball crossed the line. Fran Kirby was also ranked seventh in The Guardian's list of the top 100 female footballers worldwide for 2021. "My body wasn't ready, at all." In front of almost 4,500 fans at our Kingston base, goals from Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde settled an entertaining contest in favour of Emma Hayess side, who admittedly did not have things all their own way.. 22 min. Emma Hayes side are struggling through an injury crisis with Fran Kirby and Millie Bright out with knee problems and Kadeisha Buchanan also sidelined. West Ham FCW 0-7 Chelsea FCW, League Cup semi-final: Post Reiten herself then almost got on the end of an attack down the opposite flank but it was the visitors who had the games first effort on target when Kelly fired straight at Berger. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. That includes Fran Kirby, who made her return from illness in the impressive 3-0 defeat of Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. "I take everything with a pinch of salt. "It [the illness] could have been worse," Kirby says. Because for both sides, you see injuries mounting and thats what starts to happen when youve got back-to-back games. Nike . Kirby did some upper-body work in the gym and felt OK. She followed up with extra shooting practise afterwards, and then some sprint work. "I was an advocate of getting [Kirby] off social media," Hayes tells ESPN. Their recent exit at the Champions League qualifying stage had also dented confidence, though both sides were looking for their first points of the new campaign after opening-day losses. Kirby then fired just over from distance before James threatened again, driving 40 yards forward down the right before taking aim and firing with power but not enough precision to beat Roebuck. "I couldn't [find] anything where someone said 'this is what made me feel better'" she says. To go to the return leg with a semblance of hope intact was all Hayes had wanted against a Barcelona side with a goal difference of +100 in the league and who won this last meeting with four first-half goals. In a 12-team league and 22-game season every point is critical. But she'd been battling a lingering cough and flu-like symptoms for the past few weeks. She has reportedly endorsed brands such as Swarovski, Nike, Wow, Protein Water Company, and Hydrate. Francesca Fran Kirby, an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team, was born on June 29, 1993 in England. Before joining Chelsea in July 2015, she started her career at her hometown club Reading. Kirby received her first senior cap for England in August 2014. Chelsea have that hope, albeit slimly, given they will now have to go to the Camp Nou, a stadium at which Barcelona Women have never lost and never scored fewer than three goals. While wave after wave of City attack arrived, Nadia Nadim was closed out by Millie Bright and Maren Mjelde and looked isolated in the middle. Weve had to nurture her through the week, I didnt think she was going to play today but thats how tough she is and how much she wants to put it on the line.. Chelseas second was less pretty. Follow Katie on Twitter @KatieWhyatt, Graham Hansen celebrates after scoring the games only goal (Photo: Steve Bardens/UEFA via Getty Images), Hayes said her side needed to play a perfect game against Barcelona on Saturday (Photo: Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images), Journey to the Cup, supported by Google Chrome. She could feel her chest tighten. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. We were playing out from the back in every situation and gave City the best chances," she said. She tested herself with a jog. I remember talking to Claire Rafferty [ex-England and Chelsea left back, now part of the Chelsea commercial staff] and I told her how ill I felt, and she said to me, 'If this is the end, what are your plans?' "You could see the pride in her face, with that trophy," England says. I've learnt not to get too excited, because as soon as something goes bad, it all changes," Kirby says. The home team should have been ahead within a minute, but Kirbys return of Sam Kerrs cutback was a little behind the Australian forward who put her effort wide as a result. Defending champions Chelsea got their first points on board in the Womens Super League following a victory over rivals Manchester City, whose poor start continues. Football was a world away. Match report Fran Kirby and a Maren Mjelde penalty give Chelsea their first WSL victory of the season despite an impressive first-half performance from Manchester We've been on this journey together. "If you look at the video from it, I was laughing around you wouldn't have known I was going to be severely ill hours later.". Comfortable, now, without dominating the ball, and more decisive. "I just started to get extreme chest pains," Kirby says. A more competitive Womens Super League they had no bona fide competition for the title the last time they played Barcelona has seen them find new solutions, and brought an edge they didnt always know they needed. It was baffling: An elite athlete shouldn't be having such pains and symptoms. Chelsea have had three draws in a row since they last picked up three points away to Yeovil on 21 February. ", "She needed that time during COVID to get to that point," Hayes says. Going a goal behind failed to rattle City who dominated possession for the rest of the half but were unable to break through a resilient Chelsea back line. Mejlde stepped up and stuck into the top left corner beyond the sprawling Roebuck to secure the three points for Chelsea. The Blues threatened an opening goal inside the first 15 seconds direct from kick-off as Mille Bright played a long ball forward to find Reiten in behind down the left. Fran Kirbys first-half goal got the hosts off to a flyer before Maren Mjeldes penalty 12 minutes before time sealed the win. Sophie Ingle smashed the rebounding ball goalwards following an Erin Cuthbert effort, but it took a deflection off the raised arm of Leila Ouahabi and the referee Abigail Byrne rightly pointed to the spot and Maren Mjelde converted. Kirby made the same promise to herself, and to her teammates. Kirby would play at school, on the street, and in the front garden whenever she had the chance. Fran Kirby ", With the 2019-20 Women's Super League (WSL) cancelled in May, Chelsea were anointed champions; Hayes told the players over Zoom they'd won the league on a points-per-game basis. Nothing she or her depleted Chelsea squad did would have changed the scoreline. Updated: 16:50, 14 Mar 2021 CHELSEA defender Maren Mjelde was given oxygen and stretchered off after suffering a horrific injury in the FA Women's Continental Cup final. Norwegian international The silver lining for Chelsea amid the ignominy of the 2021 Champions League final was that Hayes could have no real regrets. Maren Mjelde - Wikipedia It lifted Kirby's spirits. The paramedics arrived, as did Chelsea's doctor, Francisco Moreira. Our best chance of the half came moments later when the high-pressing approach from the hosts reaped rewards as Steph Houghtons pass back to the keeper was short and pounced upon by Kerr. The back three should all be very proud of themselves. thrash Swiss champions She was eating dinner with her closest friends and teammates, Beth England and Maren Mjelde, at home, and suddenly felt awful. Are Chelsea done with me?'". Maren Mjelde, who used to be born on November 6, 1989, is 4 years more youthful than Fran Kirby, who used to be born on June 29, 1993. English International . Watch more, Watch every second of our Barclays Women's Super League clash with Chelsea on Sunday. It was scary to see how well she was in herself during the day, to seeing her from a full, well, fit, healthy person -- to collapse. The victory was soon sealed with 12 minutes remaining, though it came amid a moment of uncertainty as referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot to award the Blues a penalty. Kirby remembers reading the comments on social media, with people saying Kerr was signed to replace her. "I'm not too proud to admit that it's something I'd struggled with. Every WSL player registered for the women's Olympic football event. Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football. ", England has seen Kirby at her lowest and at her best. Maren was chosen for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2009 UEFA Women's Euro. She has reportedly endorsed brands such as Swarovski, Nike, Wow, Protein Water Company, and Hydrate. There is an international break now, so Taylor's side are next in WSL action on Sunday 16 October, playing host to Leicester City. Monday Marker: Your guide to City's week ahead, Alvarez and Mahrez start as City make two changes for trip to Fulham, Alvarez wonder strike fires City back on top of the Premier League, Haaland and Alvarez are an 'incredible weapon', says Guardiola. The season's halfway done, but Kirby doesn't want to look ahead. "I tried to be as discreet as possible that something had happened last night, it was just kinda like 'oh something weird happened, I collapsed last night'. Karen Mjelde Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Man United end Villa's run, take step towards top-four finish against backdrop of fan protests, How Premier League clubs can qualify for Europe this season, What Wrexham, Reynolds and McElhenney can learn from Salford City's League Two struggles, Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only). Niamh Charles and Jess Carter part of a makeshift back four including a forward at right-back and a right-footer at left-back that night in Sweden demonstrated their growth. After Hayes admitted that Kirby would need some time to get to the bottom of the issue, the 28-year-old posted an update on social media, claiming that it was "time to put my health first". As of December 2020, she is Chelsea's all-time top scorer. The same disease took her life later. Ann-Katrin Berger, Magda Eriksson, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde have been named in the PFA Barclays FA Womens Super League Team of the Year. ", "I knew I needed help, that something really bad was going on. With just under 15 minutes remaining, Emma Hayes' side were awarded a penalty after Leila Ouahabi was penalised for blocking a shot with her arm. I want to win every day, even if it's in-house games. Nineteen Blues touch down in Barcelona | News | Official Site Fran Kirby has a brother named Jamie Kirby with whom she spent her childhood playing football. "I sounded like a zombie," she says. "WINNING TROPHIES IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR!" | FRAN "In the course of my 25-year career, I've never seen a player transform their life as much as I've seen her from a place of difficulty, disruption, despair to joy, to gratitude, to application," Hayes tells ESPN. Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox. Expire end of 2022/23. Chelsea reclaim top spot in Women's Super League as Maybe they knew it all along; Keira Walsh had said she was anticipating a far more resilient Chelsea side than the one of two years ago. She captains the Norway national team in addition to playing as a defender or midfielder for Chelsea. The names Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby have emerged in connection with their alleged relationship as footballers. You just have to ride the waves. According to sources, Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde were dating and occasionally seen together. Gays of Chelsea WFC Chelsea went on a record-breaking run of 33 games without defeat and sit five points clear at the top of the league and are still fighting on the Champions League front. Midfielders. Maren Mjelde of Chelsea celebrates with teammates Sophie Ingle and Lauren James after scoring her team's second goal during the FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC Women and Manchester City WFC. Fran Kirby Web80K Followers, 452 Posts - @chelseafcw | @kvinnelandslaget | @pumafootball Management: @ness.network dn@ness-network.com Hayes might have to rely on a patched-together centre-back partnership of Magdalena Eriksson and Maren Mjelde this weekend, although she hinted Buchanans return is imminent. "It was strange; everyone had gone their separate ways. City did not look quite as defensively shambolic as they did in their 4-3 defeat against Aston Villa but there was a lack of coherence to their play. You can see why Ive complained about the gruelling schedule. Rumor has it that Kirby is dating Maren Mjelde, a footballer who plays for Norway. As she reflects on that frightening moment, Kirby laughs a little and contemplates where she is and where she was. DOB: 29th June 1993. 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The Norwegian cut across goal and Kirby fired in. Most of the time she kept it to herself as I think she felt she was going to be a burden, giving that info to everyone else.". The goal for Chelsea, when it came, was beautiful. Maren Mjelde: Chelsea Women defender ruled out of remainder Mjelde made her senior international debut for Norway against Russia in October 2007. Kirby had collapsed. Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Berger; Mjelde (Perisset 86), Bright, Buchanan, Eriksson (c); Cuthbert, Fleming (Ingle 65); James (Kaneryd 90+1), Kirby, Reiten (Charles 86); KerrUnused subs Musovic, Carter, England, Svitkova, CankovicScorers Kirby 42; Mjelde 78, Manchester City (4-3-3) Roebuck; Casparij, Houghton (c), Greenwood, Ouahabi; Aleixandri (Losada 85), Castellanos, Coombs, Kelly, Shaw (Blakstad 85), Hemp (Raso 79)Unused subs MacIver, Keating, Stokes, Fowler, Angeldahl, HutchingsBooked Ouahabi 52. tickets are still available to purchase online. Yes and no," Kirby continues. Born on June 29, 1993, Kirby was born and reared in Reading with her brother Jamie and parents Denise and Steve. At the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, Kirby was described as a "stand out player" for Great Britain's gold-medal winning squad. Chelsea Women's squad: Best player, manager and WSL record All rights reserved. In 2005, she joined the Arna-Bjrnar club in Norway at 15. Thats why it has to be a perfect game. Shes really got a lot of big semi-final goals for this team. Position: Forward #14. Wholesale changes to the squad cannot be an excuse for long. Fran Kirby Chelsea are at the top of the WSL and have a 2-0 lead over Atletico Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League. "But it was all about positivity. Chelsea have more representatives in the PFA Team of the Year than any other WSL side and its no surprise after an impressive season from the Blues. Fr Fran Kirby och Jordan Henderson var sommaren minst sagt hndelserik. "We won, which is amazing, but there's nothing better than playing that last game. Amid a frantic opening 10 minutes, the Blues conjured the best passing move of the early stages after Erin Cuthbert initiated the move from midfield with a clever switch of play to the left. The rearranged WSL fixture was originally due to be played at Stamford Bridge but was postponed following the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "I had thought numerous times that I was going to have to retire," Kirby says. DOB: 6th November 1989. "I just needed to get away from the negativity and my phone," she tells ESPN. As the game edged into its final quarter, Chelsea were searching for a second goal that would secure all of those points and James appeared most likely to provide that cutting edge just days shy of her 21st birthday. Taylor's side emerged from the break with the same attacking intent and were unlucky not to level as Aleixandri's intricate through ball found Coombs, but Berger held onto her strike from a difficult angle. She read how she was finished, how Chelsea had replaced her with superstar new signings. A double in either half from the inform England striker Fran Kirby at home to Manchester City booked Chelsea a place in the FA Cup final. Chelsea registered their first points of the Womens Super League season as Fran Kirbys finish and a Maren Mjelde penalty saw the defending champions defeat Manchester City 2-0 at Kingsmeadow. In November 2019, Kirby became ill, and as a result, she almost retired from the sport. Chelsea XI:Berger, Bright, James, Reiten (Charles 86'), Kirby, Eriksson, Fleming (Ingle 65'), Mjelde (Perisset 86'), Kerr, Cuthbert, Buchanan, Subs:Musovic, Ingle, Carter, England, Svitkova, Perisset, Kaneryd, Charles, Cankovic, City XI: Roebuck, Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Aleixandri (Losada 84'), Coombs, Castellanos, Hemp (Raso 79'), Shaw (Blackstad 84'), Kelly. Nineteen Blues touch down in Barcelona | News | Official Site In late 2019, seemingly out of the blue, Fran Kirby collapsed. 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Hayes visible frustration when those moves didnt quite come off betrayed how vital those chances were. Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde - YouTube The hosts made an electric start at Kingsmeadow and almost took the lead after just eight seconds, with Sam Kerr turning the ball just wide of Ellie Roebuck's right post from six yards. We were like, 'congrats' ". Most inside Kingsmeadow were still marvelling over an expert save from Roebuck to push Ingles dipping drive over the crossbar, though the officials had spotted that a handball had played a part in keeping the midfielders shot out. Yet here she stands today, fully recovered and still one of the most talented forwards in world football. The talented footballer previously battled depression, followed by pericarditis, a debilitating condition affecting the fluid-filled sac around the heart. Likewise, she weighs 52 kg. Mjelde Subs are Jelena Cankovic for Fran Kirby, Maren Mjelde for ve Prisset, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd for Lauren James, and Alsu Abdullina for Guro Reiten. Mjelde was born in Bergen, Norway. "The things she's been through are hurtful things," England says. The team as a whole defended as well as they could, Hayes said. Forwards. Datos y estadsticas del Chelsea - Barcelona | UEFA Women's Shes great in the FA Cup. In the absence of Harder, Jessie Fleming and Mjelde were the others to come in, with Zecira Musovic, Niamh Charles and Sophie Ingle dropping to the bench. Fran Kirby Partner Maren Mjelde, Are They In A Her ethnicity is English, as both of her parents were British. Kirby turned to Google for answers, the words of friends and coaches blurring around her. Having a public figure like Fran to talk about these things is inspirational.". She had got in contact through Kirby's agent, keen to tell Kirby how she had got through it. We want to get the players on the training pitch but we dont get the opportunity.. ', "Did I believe that myself? "It didn't feel like we finished the league last year," Kirby says. I was disappointed with our forward play but well work on it. We've made incredible signings, so now I need to raise my level even further.". Maren Mjeldes penalty secured a seven game winning run for the Blues, writes James Andrew. A double in either half from the inform England striker Fran Kirby at home to Manchester City booked Chelsea a place in the FA Cup final. However, in stark contrast to the first 45 minutes, chances were at a premium for both sides in the second period, the game becoming increasingly scrappy in the battle for possession. She was eating dinner with her closest friends and teammates, Beth England and Maren Mjelde, at home, and suddenly felt awful. This Chelsea team were light years removed from the one that capitulated against these opponents in the 2021 Champions League final. Kirby performs skilled Kirby has also appeared on the prestigious "Lesbian 100 records" for April 2020 from Diva Magazine. It is rare that there is much riding on the second game of the season, but with both Chelsea and City having endured shock defeats on the first weekend, against the newly promoted Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively, suddenly this result mattered more.
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