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Women's football: Chelsea Ladies star Ji So-Yun thrilled with FA award nomination

Image: Ji So Yun: In line for Players' Player of the Year award

Chelsea Ladies forward Ji So-Yun is thrilled with her nomination for Players’ Player of the Year at Friday’s FA Women’s Football Awards.

The South Korean international scored nine goals last season as Chelsea finished second in FA WSL 1 to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions league for the first time in their history.

Chelsea Ladies is a very special team and I am so honoured to play for this side.
Ji So-Yun

And the 23-year-old, who faces competition for the accolade from Birmingham’s Karen Carney and Notts County’s Jess Clarke, admits her debut season in the FA WSL has been a learning curve.

“It's a great honour for me to have been nominated as the Player's Player of the Year in my first season in England,” Ji told Sky Sports News HQ.  “Chelsea Ladies is a very special team and I am so honoured to play for this side.

“I would like to thank all of my fellow players at Chelsea as well as the other players who I shared a football pitch with this season.

Physicality

“The Women’s Super League requires more speed and physicality than I have been used to during my career, but I am really enjoying the English way of playing and I know that I still have a lot to learn.”

Ji, who joined Chelsea from Japanese side INAC Kobe Leonessa, admits she is still adapting to life in England but hopes to build on an impressive first season in this country next year.

“I think that I was able to adjust to life in England sooner than expected thanks to the warmth from the Korean community here and from the kind support from the players and the staff at Chelsea,” she said.

“The players and the staff in particular have been really helpful. When I am lost or unsure of something, they explain things to me slowly so that I am able to understand them better.

I think that I was able to adjust to life in England sooner than expected thanks to the warmth from the Korean community here.
Ji So-Yun

“Next season, I will do my best and try to enjoy my presence even more on the field and nothing would make me happier than if more people came to watch and enjoy the Women's Super League.”

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