‘I was ready to take a break from football in January and now I’m a Champions League winner’ – Chloe Kelly | OneFootball

Chloe Kelly is “on cloud nine” after winning the Champions League with Arsenal, admitting she almost took a break from football earlier this year.

After a rocky period at Manchester City, she put out a statement calling for a move before the January transfer window closed, and Renee Slegers took the Lioness under her wing at Arsenal.

Kelly has flourished in her time at north London and started the Champions League final in Lisbon, as Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0.

“I’m on cloud nine, right now,” Kelly said. “I’m just so grateful for Arsenal Football Club. I was ready to take a break from football in January and to be here now.

“It’s crazy. I’m very emotional and I’m just grateful. Renee Slegers, what a woman!

“It’s amazing, so good. I just appreciate these times. This club is a great football club and the girls are unbelievable. And this is what this club deserves – so much success and hopefully more.

“I’m feeling relaxed [about my contract situation]. If this is my last game for Arsenal Football Club, I’ll forever be grateful for what they’ve done for me in my career. It’s hard to put into words, but I hope for more.”

Barcelona went into the final at Estadio Jose Alvaladea as favourites, featuring in their fifth consecutive final, having won three of their previous four.

Meanwhile, it was Arsenal’s first Champions League final since the club’s victory in 2007.

But it was the Gunners who knocked Barcelona off their throne in Lisbon, as a second-half Stina Blackstenius goal was the difference-maker in Lisbon.

“It was a mammoth effort today,” Kelly added. “Yeah, what a graft. Barcelona are a top team, a great team, and we knew we had to be comfortable being uncomfortable and that was our motto through the week.

“We rode the storm and for Stina to come on and do that…class.

“This Champions League has been a roller coaster. They were in the first round of the qualifying and have then gone on to win it.

“[We went] down against Real Madrid, fighting back and doing it at the Emirates in front of our fans, Going down against Lyon at home, coming back to Lyon and getting the result.

“This club is resilient and the girls are resilient, and it’s just class.”

Around 5,000 Arsenal fans travelled from London to watch their team come out victorious.

“The fans are amazing,” Kelly added. “Hearing ‘North London Forever’ – our fans singing that, and then at the end to be singing that we’re champions is special.

“This is for every single fan, whether they are at the Emirates cheering us on, whether they’re here in Lisbon or they’re sat at home watching. This is for every Arsenal fan.”