Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Suffers Major Knee Injury, Olympic Hopes in Doubt

Bad news for Chelsea and the Australian national team fans. In a statement, the English club announced that Australian striker Sam Kerr’s season is seriously compromised after a serious knee injury sustained during a training camp in Morocco. "Sam will be evaluated by a specialist in the coming days and then begin her rehabilitation with the club’s medical team," the same source added. A blow for the Blues. Arrived at Chelsea in 2019, the 30-year-old player has delivered good performances. She has scored 99 goals in 128 matches.

The Australian team confirmed the news. "CommBank Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been ruled out of the second half of the English Women’s Super League season and the third round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers against Uzbekistan in February 2024. This follows confirmation from Chelsea FC that the striker has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture during the club’s mid-season training camp currently taking place in Morocco," it said in a statement cited by Daily Mail. A "devastating" news, according to Tony Gustavsson, the coach of the Australian women’s national team.

"Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to get back into the game, this news is devastating for everyone," he said. Gustavsson added: "Due to her ability to lead by example, Sam’s advice and influence on the team are significant, and therefore her loss will be incredibly damaging for the national team." Matildas fans also express the same feeling. "This is horrible and something needs to be done to address the number of women suffering this injury," writes one fan. "The sooner they study ACL injuries in women, the better! Devastating for any athlete," comments another fan.

This injury could prevent Sam from participating in the Olympics in Paris with Australia. She had already been affected by a knee cruciate ligament injury in 2019.