Chelsea Women: 3 takeaways from a historic UWCL triumph over Lyon

Ann-Katrin Berger solidifies her place as the team’s No. 1

The German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has been through the ringer all season. Berger announced via social media that she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in August. While she missed the first match of the season, Berger slotted right back into Hayes’ team while undergoing treatment at the same time.

Earlier in the campaign, Berger made it known that football has saved her mental health. If anyone on the team deserved to piece together a performance like that under the brightest of lights, it was Berger. You can see it in the body language of Berger after the save of Lindsey Horan’s penalty. After all she has gone through this season, nobody will be able to take this away from her.

She endured a difficult run of form toward the end of the 2022 calendar year, giving way to Zecira Musovic at times. Just a few weeks ago, the west Londoners announced the signing of Nicky Evrard, another top-class goalkeeper. While we may see a three-way battle for the No. 1 goalkeeping spot next season, Berger has laid the hammer down going forward this season with this display in the clutch.

There is no quit in this player. Berger embraces challenges head on. Both in life and on the football pitch. Despite how much this club may want to pass the torch to another stop-stopper, the former Birmingham City player is making it incredibly hard.

For this alone, the German will forever be remembered as one of the club’s greatest goalkeepers, showing up at home against the She stood tall with two penalty saves including one against a 2019 World Cup champion. James’ causal penalty could have cost the west Londoners, but Berger had her teammates’ back. She had her mistakes from playing out the back throughout the season, but those two saves more than make up for that.