As she aims to win the Women’s FA Cup final for the third time running at Wembley today, Sam Kerr has revealed some of her secrets for success.
A serial winner and a serial goalscorer throughout her career, Kerr netted two goals in each of her previous two FA Cup final wins. With the Blues taking on Manchester United in a 2.30pm kick-off, live on BBC One, the 29-year-old will not even contemplate the idea of failure. She will not be altering anything ahead of the game either.
‘I'm really superstitious so I really don't change my schedule,’ Kerr admits.
‘I keep the same kind of routine, especially if we've been scoring and winning games, which we have been, so I'm pretty sure on Sunday afternoon I'll be doing the same thing as I have been the last couple of weeks.
‘You can't think about losing ever. That's the number one sin as a footballer,’ she states.
‘If you think about that, that’s what's going to happen. Once you’re thinking negative thoughts, that's the only way you're going to go so for me, I visualise scoring a goal, the celebration, seeing my family after the game - all the things that make me play football and be a footballer.’
While the Blues are striving to win the Double for a third time in a row, and capture our fifth FA Cup, Manchester United Women are seeking their first major trophy since they were formed in their current version in 2018. Despite that, Kerr counters any suggestion that our opponents will have a greater drive for success.
‘It's easy to stay motivated,’ she says. ‘When you win one trophy you can't help but want more.
‘I love winning, whether it's FA Cup finals or a game on the weekend. I just love winning or training. I hate losing so it's easy to stay motivated as a footballer, that's our job. That's why we do it. If I wasn't motivated, I wouldn't be playing football.
‘It's a really important trophy for us. The first year I was here we lost in the quarter-final to Everton and ever since then, the girls were very quick to tell me that if you want to win one trophy, it's the FA Cup. So it's a very important trophy to us and hopefully we can keep it at Chelsea.’
Kerr has confirmed she is fine to take part at Wembley today following coming off with cramp last weekend and being rested on the bench midweek.
‘I think Emma struggles to give me a rest because I get a bit angry if I'm not playing,’ she smiles.
‘I feel like I still have more and more to give even though I feel like there's a game every three days. I still have a lot to achieve and a lot I want to achieve so for me, it's about still getting better.
‘Obviously I can't look into the future but I see myself going bigger and better than I am now and hopefully continue winning trophies with this team.’