“We need to be perfect tomorrow”: Spurs’ Robert Vilahamn Ahead of Manchester City Clash
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to disturb Manchester City’s 10-game unbeaten run as they take on the Blues in the Women’s Super League on Friday. They will travel to the Etihad Stadium to face the league leaders, hoping to continue the momentum built following their second league win last Sunday.
Robert Vilahamn’s team currently sits seventh in the table, nine points from their opponents.
Vilahamn expressed his desire for perfection tomorrow. This follows a shaky win against West Ham United last week, thanks in part to an own goal by Camila Sáez during stoppage time.
The Spurs manager said: “We are prepared to take this fight. We also know what we need to focus on. If we have a great game, and everything goes well, we have a big chance to win the game.
“If we don’t have that, we are probably going to lose the game. So, we need to go into this game with a mindset that we need to be perfect tomorrow. Or at least almost perfect, because otherwise, they are going to win.”
The Lilywhites manager also reflected on his team’s heavy defeat to City last season. The home team scored seven, and Vilahamn’s side failed to register a single big chance all game. He said: “I learned a lot from that game.
“One thing was that we play against some really good teams in this league with really good individual players. If you don’t defend together against these teams, they can beat you one against one and score a lot of nice goals.
“So, I think collectively we’ve learned a lot. How we need to make sure we stick together and make sure we defend together.”
Vilahamn confirmed that Midfielder Hayley Raso and Defender Amy James-Turner are available for selection as they make their long-awaited returns.
The Opposition: How Spurs Can Overcome The Blues’ Press
Manchester City currently sit on top of the Women’s Super League table. The side are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions this season, winning nine and drawing one.
While City are the heavy favourites for this match, the Tottenham manager revealed how he could better a team whose press allows little opportunity to attack their opponent’s goal.
“I think it’s a mixture of not losing the identity that we want to do. But they’re aware that they’re really good.
“[Against] Chelsea, we had some really good build-up…but then there were some moments when we lost it and then they counter-attacked. So, we need to be very sharp when we are brave and when we need to take care.
“We need to be brave, but we also need to be sure that we can manage the frequencies of the game when we cannot really handle their press. Then we need to be really sharp to go longer, for example.”
The Goalscoring Threat of Khadija Shaw and The Cityzens Going Forward
Vilahamn added that his side would have to use several players to defend against forward Khadija Shaw, who he acknowledged as one of the best strikers in the world.
“We experienced her in the away game last season and how good she can be and how dominant she can be. I’ve seen her at the start of this season and how she can score all these amazing goals for them and make sure they win games.
“I also experienced how we actually took her down in the home game against us. I know that if we do that in the right moment and tackle her in the right moment, and make sure we know where she is and everything, we can handle it.
“But obviously she’s probably the best nine in the league, and she’s probably one of the best nine’s in the world.”
While it will not be an easy game for Spurs on Friday, if Vilahamn’s side performs the way he believes they can, Manchester City could be in for their first upset of the season.
