Jess Carter has become an integral part of England's defence

08/19/2023

England’s Jess Carter was a late bloomer at international level but the unflappable Chelsea star has enshrined herself as an integral part of Sarina Wiegman’s defence as the Lionesses chase World Cup glory

Jess Carter has become one of Sarina Wiegman’s most trusted stalwarts
Now the England defender is just one game away from winning the World Cup
WATCH: Wiegman CAN’T recall Lauren James, Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton says

As the ball hung in the air, Jess Carter knew that if she missed it, Australia would be through on goal.

With one exquisite touch, the defender plucked the ball out of the air, turned away from her opposing player and played a forward pass into the midfield. This was a World Cup semi-final, but it was as if Carter was merely playing in a local park without a care in the world.

The defender’s calmness sums up this England team – who do not panic in any situation – whether it be conceding a goal, going behind or having a player sent off.

‘I’m not really a nervous person,’ the England centre back says. ‘I play my best when I’m super calm.’

But Carter’s laid-back approach to football was perhaps a hindrance earlier in her career. When she joined Chelsea from Birmingham in 2018, Carter struggled at first to adjust to the jump in professionalism.

Jess Carter has become one of the most valuable assets in England’s run to the World Cup final

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The DAZN documentary One Team, One Dream, which charted Chelsea’s era-defining years between 2019 and 2021, focused on Carter’s early struggles.

A 22-year-old Carter was regularly late for training while club staff raised concerns around her fitness and nutritional habits. The documentary showed how Chelsea manager Emma Hayes opted for a tough love approach to push Carter to new levels.

‘I paid a lot of money for you,’ Hayes told the defender. ‘If you don’t improve, I’m selling you.’

Carter was placed on a strict nutritional plan and would have to send pictures of the meals she cooked at home to club staff. The micro-management is something she resented at first but, over time, Carter realised it was something she would have to get on board with if she wanted to play at the very top.

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It was in the 2020-2021 season where Carter really started to fulfil the potential she had shown at a young age. An injury saw her given a run in the side and by the end of the campaign, she had contributed significantly to the treble Chelsea managed to achieve.

After making her England debut as a 20-year-old in 2017, Carter made her next international appearance under Sarina Wiegman four years later. Another impressive season with Chelsea, saw Carter selected for Euro 2022, but the tournament almost came at the worst possible time, with the defender suffering from burn-out following two intensive domestic seasons.

Carter had honest conversations with England manager Sarina Wiegman about what role she could realistically have.

‘Two seasons ago, my body wasn’t really able to handle it and I think going into the Euros, the best way for me to get back was to give that feedback, rather than pushing and pushing and then breakdown even more,’ Carters says.

‘Twelve months ago, I wasn’t in the place I wanted to be in but I’ve had tremendous support from Sarina, Arjan and all the staff in terms of how I can get back to being the best version of me. Between them and Chelsea, I’m back to a place where I want to be at and you can see it in my performances.’

But her ascent to the top of women’s football was by no means an immediate one

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes pushed the defender to become the best version of herself

Carter’s mental strength is clear for all to see. Her story of being abandoned by an alcoholic mother when she was a baby has been well documented, as has her partner Ann Katrin Berger’s multiple cancer diagnosis. Berger, who also plays for Chelsea, was first diagnosed with Thyroid cancer in 2017 – while she and Carter were at Birmingham. Last year the goalkeeper was told the cancer had returned.

It followed Carter’s sister, Amelia, being diagnosed with breast cancer at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Carter’s sibling and Berger are both now doing well, but it has not been easy.

It makes her performances at this World Cup even more impressive. She was not guaranteed a starting place coming into the tournament, but has played every game bar one.

Carter played in the centre of defence in a back-four in England’s opening match with Haiti but was dropped for the following game against Denmark, despite having played well.

‘When I didn’t play against Denmark I wasn’t not bothered, but it was just like: “I’ve just played in a World Cup”, I had more minutes than I thought I was ever going to get coming into this tournament. I didn’t come into the tournament expecting to play at all.

‘I was so honoured to be part of the team. Obviously, of course, you always want to play every minute. But I wasn’t too disheartened against Denmark, and when I spoke to Sarina and [heard] her reasons and our tactics, she’s going to make the best decisions that she thinks are appropriate to go and win a game.’

Carter has since become one of Sarina Wiegman’s defensive stalwarts at the World Cup

The 25-year-old produced an commanding performance as the Lionesses defeated Australia to reach their first World Cup final

Carter came back into the team when Wiegman switched to a back-three, a system she has played regularly at Chelsea. Carter has excelled alongside her Chelsea team-mate Millie Bright and Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood. It was her crucial interception which prevented Australia’s Emily van Egmond from tapping-in an equaliser when England led 2-1 in their semi-final.

Carter’s journey to becoming a potential World Cup winner has not been straightforward. She did not follow the route of moving up youth age groups like other players in this squad. By her own admission, she has had to ‘catch up’.

‘Definitely when I look back I think about how my international journey has been different to a lot of people’s. You know, I wasn’t really consistently in the youth setup, nor at the senior level either, so I think from that side of things, I was having to catch up on the international stage.

‘Sometimes I wondered if I was more consistently in the youth setup, would I have gotten to this stage quicker in my career or earlier in my career?

‘But I just think it’s been the perfect journey to get me to where I am now.’

Outwardly, Carter will remain the calm, composed and laid-back member of this England team. But over time she has built up an inner strength, aggression and determination that may just lead her and England to glory.

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