“Everything went well, but now the real game starts” says Robert Vilahamn ahead of WSL opener
After a busy summer transfer window and a successful preseason, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Robert Vilahamn is eager to get back to business. Looking ahead to the opening weekend of the Barclays Women’s Super League, the manager professed “Everything went well, but now the real game starts.”
Vilahamn confirmed that Ella Morris, Amy James-Turner, and Shuang Wang will be absent from Sunday’s lineup against Crystal Palace.
Despite Laura Kaminski’s side only recently making their way into topflight after they secured promotion from the Barclays Women’s Championship last season, Vilahamn maintained that this weekend’s fixture poses a challenge for his bolstered North London outfit. The newly promoted Eagles are “too good” for Spurs to expect to dominate the entire 90 minutes, according to the manager.
“It going to be a tough game, I can guarantee that, but I also feel like we have taken steps. It’s going to be very interesting to play them because I feel like they can surprise many teams this season.”
Supporting Spurs Women both on and off the pitch
This week, the club announced that Amy James-Turner has signed a new contract in North London, running until 2026. The head coach expressed what this means to his project, praising the defender’s strength of character.
“Amy showed me some really good character last season, when she was injured in the beginning.”
The versatile defender’s report into women’s football and climate change has been shortlisted for the Sport Positive Awards. Vilahamn expressed his pride as he continues his mission to foster a supportive environment at Spurs.
“There’s so much more place in women’s football that have an education that kind of trying to find ways to also do something else than football, because you can find time for that and still be professional.”
“Amy is a clear example how you can use your stage and your knowledge about stuff, and find your own way. And I feel like we are very proud of that, because you’re doing something good for the society and for the for the environment.”
Provocative summer transfers
“We should never try and convince players to be here. If you want to leave, then leave.”
This is what the Spurs boss had to say about Celin Bizet, who departed the side for Manchester United this summer. The Norwegian midfielder left alongside Grace Clinton, who returned to Marc Skinner’s side after a very successful loan spell under Vilahamn.
One of Tottenham’s biggest signings of the window came in the form of Australian centreback, Clare Hunt. Vilahamn detailed the role he sees Hunt undertaking with his side.
“Clare is obviously a very strong player, defending the box and the set pieces, but she’s extremely good on the ball and has calmness to play through press. She gives us an option where she can both defend those big strikers in this league in a good way but she can also be dominant on the pitch – both as a leader and as a player.”
Another new face at Hotspur Way is Maite Oroz, who the manager spoke equally highly of, insisting “I’ve worked with her for a week and a half, I can say I’ve never seen anything like it, how she’s so good on the ball and how technical she is.”
Moving forward
Vilahamn frequently referred to the “Tottenham Hotspur Way.” The manager cited frequent meetings with his Premier League counterpart, Ange Postecoglou, and praised Spurs’ ‘one club’ mentality.
“We tried to create an identity last season, we wanted to play some really good football and, I think, we are now ready to take the next step with that.” Vilahamn continued, “I want to make sure everybody speaks about the Spurs way, and show the fans, and everybody else, that we can be really entertaining and still win games. Because, the second thing is we want to win more games.”
“Then, if you look at the table, the results, we want to push to be better and for the Champions League, but if that takes one more year, I don’t really need to talk about that. We just need to make sure we improve, play better and win more games, then we will see where we reach this season or next.”
Vilahamn applauded the club’s widespread commitment to playing attacking football. It is an approach extends across both the men’s and women’s teams, and the former BK Häcken boss strives to implement his style at Tottenham Hotspur even further throughout the upcoming campaign.
