This article might be a bit premature, but given the recent discourse on social media about the future of Pernille Harder (and Magda Eriksson), it’s been on my mind recently, that due to a bad injury, Chelsea fans might not get the chance to see Harder in action again, and that would be a travesty.
Harder arrived at Chelsea from Wolfsburg with much fanfare, having recently won the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award (for the second time), following a Champions League final defeat to serial winners Lyon.
The Dane was hailed as one of, if not, the, world’s best, when she arrived at Chelsea, so expectations, especially too casual observers, were absolutely sky high. Harder was also walking into an attack that already boasted Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Bethany England.
This also meant that Harder was utilised by Emma Hayes and Chelsea in a slightly different way. At Wolfsburg, Harder was more of an out and out goalscorer, she managed 104 goals in 114 appearances for the German side, a goal every 1.09 games.
For Chelsea, that number has jumped to 2.06, 32 goals in 66 games. Harder occupies the box less, but like at Wolfsburg, is still deadly in the areas outside the box and in pockets of space that defenders find difficult to mark.
However, the purpose of this article is not to get bogged down in statistics and analysis, it’s not about how Chelsea will cope or not cope, if Harder decides to pursue a new challenge in the summer.
This is merely a moment to pass thanks, to be grateful and to appreciate the fact that I’ve seen Pernille Harder play football for Chelsea in the flesh.
During my years watching Chelsea, both men and women, I’ve been fortunate to watch many great players, such as Didier Drogba, a ‘complete’ striker, Sam Kerr, a world class goalscorer, Eden Hazard, quite simply, a genius. Fran Kirby, a phenomenon. Frank Lampard, Cesc Fabregas, Guro Reiten, the list goes on and on.
However, Harder, for me, is the best player I've watched live. And the point about watching live is important. I’ve watched lots of football on TV, and you simply cannot appreciate a player until you’ve really watched them, not just on the ball, but off it as well.
Lots of people see football in black and white, good and bad, goal or no goal, hit or flop. In fact I know that some Chelsea supporters believe that Harder has been a hinderance to the Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby forward line.
Which is the opinion they are entitled to, even I don’t agree with it. Watching Harder has helped open my eyes to some of the great intricacies of forward play, how to slip into pockets of space, how to create them when there aren’t any, when to pass, when to run, when to shoot, the list goes on.
There are many different grey areas in football, and Harder has helped open my eyes to all of them. Her partnership with Kerr and Kirby allowed both to flourish as we reached the Champions League final in 2021, and who knows what might’ve happened had those two Harder chances hit the back of the net.
Harder was a ‘Champions League winning signing’ and she still might be, but even if not, her time in England cannot be described as anything but successful. Two WSL titles, two FA Cup’s and one League Cup, 5 trophies (so far) and half a season still to play.
The decision on whether to renew or not is down to Pernille, her career and personal happiness will be the ultimate factors in where the Dane reports for Pre-season training after the World Cup this summer.
As a Chelsea fan, I hope that’s still at Cobham, after all, why wouldn’t you want one of the world’s best in your squad?
But if it isn’t, and Pernille makes that decision, then I hope it works out and we see her happy, playing football and winning trophies.
I hope there’s still time for me to watch you play for Chelsea, but should injury and time prevent that, I just want to say thank you, thank you for being you, thank you for joining Chelsea, thank you for opening my eyes and for all the goals scored and trophies won and trophies yet to be won.
No matter the team, you have a supporter in me.
Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.
In case we don't meet again
Thank you for this, Dean Mears. I fully agree with everything you write. I think Pernille Harder is such a good player because of the way she moves on the ground, she really has a football brain. I am a true Chelsea supporter but I really wish her all the best if she will join another club. Just not Arsenal 😊
Couldn't agree anymore. For me the litmus test of someone who knows football, is how much they appreciate Pernille Harder. She's a transcendent player - looks like she's on a different level to everyone else, and understands the game in a truly deeper sense.