MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Sandy Baltimore of Chelsea battles for possession with Kerolin Nicoli of Manchester City during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at the Manchester City Academy Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Kerolin scored the first goal of the game as Manchester City began 2026 with a 2-0 victory over Everton in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
And after being named player of the match, she praised her team-mates for their performance throughout the season.
“It just feels good to help the team,” she told Sky Sports afterwards.
“The team is doing really well, so that helps me to just enjoy and be myself, and I think the team understand my quality in the game. So I try to do my best to help the team and it’s good when everyone’s encouraging us to keep on going.”
Kerolin: The team is always first
Adding that she had had a tough couple of months coming back from an injury sustained in October, she was particularly pleased to be able to start the game and contribute from the very beginning.
“It’s always good to come on and change the game and help the team work hard to perform well, and I think the team, everyone’s doing well, so I’m encouraged to keep going and just help the team as hard as I can.”
And she summarised the City approach to the season as one that prioritises the team rather than the individual.
“I do think we are trying to build our team first, doesn’t matter what. So we always try to play as a team. We know the game plan, so it’s easy. Everyone knows where we need to be.
“The team is always first.”
Vivianne Miedema scored City’s second goal of the afternoon to seal the victory.
Manchester City remain top of the WSL table on 33 points, with 11 wins and one loss so far this season and a goal difference of +24.
They are six points ahead of Chelsea in second place, and ten points ahead of third-placed Arsenal.
