Ho previews London Derby as Spurs are “relishing the opportunity” of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur face Chelsea in the Barclays Women’s Super League this Sunday, as the first of their matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.
Martin Ho addressed the media ahead of this clash, which brings huge potential for Spurs to prove themselves as contenders for a top three finish and overcome the reigning WSL Champions.
Whilst the Blues are experiencing a dip in form, with back-to-back defeats in the WSL, Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to establish their new era under Ho. The London Derby will prove key in both club’s fight to finish in the top three at the end of the season.
Team News
Regarding team news, both Drew Spence and Maika Hamano are unavailable for selection this weekend: Spence due to picking up a red card late on against West Ham, and Hamano unable to play against her affiliated club.
Injury news remains the same, with no updates on individual progress in rehabilitation or returns to the matchday squad.
News came from Hotspur Way earlier this week that Araya Dennis signed a new, long-term contract with the squad. The head coach was very complimentary of the young talent, and promotes the club’s potential to push the development and growth of young, English talents:
“Yeah, brilliant for us and brilliant for the club. It shows real intention for us to develop younger players, English talents. Araya has been here now for a good few years and I see a lot of talent in her and a lot of potential.
She has a lot of work to do still. She's still very young. She's only 19 and she's got lots of work to do as an individual, but I believe she can be one of the most solid players with this club moving forward, if we get it in the right place.”
Performing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Ho will make his first appearance at the Stadium in charge of Spurs Women, and he hopes this will be a special occasion for both himself and the team:
“My first game there, so I'm really excited for it at the same time as the, as the staff, as head coach. So yeah, we're really excited and we know that we have to make sure we perform well if we want to, we want to win the game. We've got to be at our best and the players have trained really well all week, and we'll have a couple more sessions to go for the rest of the week and then we'll, we’ll see where we sit when we come to Sunday.”
Having spent some time at the ground this week, he understands that the team must make the most of having this iconic stadium available for them for the London Derby:
“I feel it's the best stadium in well football. It's authentic, it's iconic. And when you're stood there, you feel like this when you’re stood inside.”
To play in a London Derby at the big stadium is a huge opportunity for Tottenham to prove themselves in front of a home crowd. Ho is determined to ensure the performance is a representation of all the hard work behind the scenes:
“The players now relishing the opportunity to play against Chelsea at the stadium. That will definitely bring definitely an edge to us. It brings an excitement definitely because you're playing in front of your home fans at the stadium. And we just want to make sure that the performance backs up in terms of what we've been doing.”
Previewing Chelsea
On the back of their first consecutive WSL defeats for a decade, Chelsea have been exploited for their weaknesses in recent weeks. When asked about whether this bolsters Spurs’ chances on Sunday, Ho reminded that they are still a very dangerous opposition with some of the best central midfielders on the women’s football map:
“Yeah, they're a wonderful team, and if anyone thinks that them losing two games is turns them into a bad team, then you're very, very, very mistaken. They're a wonderful team. They have wonderful players. They were a wonderful manager and, when a team, yeah, they played Arsenal and Manchester City, two top teams, and in those games, it's kind of nip and took who takes the chances and at that level.
And, unfortunately, Chelsea have been on the back end of that and, um, you expect the response, you know they're going to be dangerous. And we know what the threats are going to be like, very dynamic players in the front line, very good players in central areas. They've got some of the most decorated central midfielders in world football.
So, we need to be aware and we will be, but what that doesn't do is we have to show no fear in that. We have to apply ourselves correctly and focus on ourselves and what we want to do.”
Despite conceding five goals last weekend to Manchester City, the head coach is certain that their dip in form must be viewed in isolation. He continues to have a lot of respect for their squad and manager, Sonia Bompastor, as he prepares to face them at their best:
“You can look at the other results in the other games, and you have to take them in isolation. It doesn't make Chelsea, as I said, a poor team because they lose two games, every team loses a game, and every player can have an off day and we need to make sure we prepare for Chelsea at their best…
And they have a lot of experience, then elite players in that team, and they have a lot of dangerous players in the front of midfield line, and we have to be aware of that. And I have huge respect for them as a team and Sonia as a manager. And we'll prepare very diligently for the game.”
Mentality and resilience
Ho reminded that his squad deserve full credit for their ability to adapt and respond in certain moments, in particular when momentum shifts and the opposition take control of the game:
“You have to give all credit to the playing group. The players, we have a wonderful group of players who are willing to apply and adapt in certain moments. We've done so much work in terms of as a team to try and change the mentality when you go behind and having a never say die attitude, if you'd like to say. I was just trying to find responses that you can stay in games when you're, if you go down in a game, there's always a chance to respond.”
Regarding the past two matchdays, the head coach was certain that his squad reacted well to a poor performance against Liverpool and increased the intensity and ambition to earn three points away at West Ham:
“Mostly important for me is the attitude and behaviour to respond. If you have done, you're willing not to give up. You probably have a chance in games, and I think we see that on the weekend against West Ham.
A poor performance against Liverpool. Then we responded against West Ham and maybe when you go one nil by, Megan, you, the players maybe think previously, or do you know what, we're kind of done here, but actually the response straight away was very good.
We were creating more opportunities. And then the 2nd half, we raised the level again and there was two wonderful strikes from Matilda [Vinberg] and Olivia [Holdt].”
Overall, it is important to stay grounded and focused, using previous defeats to build confidence and momentum. Ho asserts that this has taken some time, particularly after a tough run of consecutive fixtures against Manchester United in December:
“I think against, if you look against the top teams, if you want to call it, we've had some good performance and we've built on those performances we went through. Maybe been unfortunate with some of the results. the back ones just before Christmas against United, where we drew, and um, but we've actually performed better in those games, and it takes time to build a team back to where you wanted to be, and it takes time to build confidence and momentum in a group.”
Adaptation and opportunity in Spence’s absence
Spence’s suspension affects the team hugely, as she leads the midfield as a consistent performer with high intensity and aggression both on and off the ball. The head coach praised her game play and understands her absence will be a huge loss for the team performance in the coming weeks:
“I think you've just said everything there, Charlotte, about Drew as an individual. I think she's been outstanding and if you're looking at individual performances on a consistent basis, I think Drew has been a standout throughout the season.
What she brings to us in terms of a calmness and an experience with the ball, and a rarely dynamic approach with the ball. We've evolved our game a lot in terms of technically and tactically and, then off the board, tenacity and aggression is, is second to none.
She sets the tone and the bar for how we want to defend on the front foot and really wear in a spare shirt with pride and passion and really kind of puts forward how we how we should approach games and yeah, she will be missing these games 100%.”
When asking about how Ho plans to find a replacement for Spence and fill her midfielding role, he spoke about opportunity. New players are able to have the chance to prove themselves, stepping up when it matters most:
“But that now presents an opportunity for someone else to come into the team to, to show a different level and to give us something different, which is nice when you have a squad and you have depth within your squad.
Drew will still play a part because she will use it experiences around the group over this time and she'll continue to get better laying off the pitch. But yeah, it doesn't overshadow any of the performance she's had, and I think now we have to make sure that we get the right balance within the team. And we find the right approach for this game and as I said, when opportunity presents itself, for someone to step into the team. It should be taken with both hands.”
The London Derby takes place on Sunday 8th February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (14:25 KO BST).