Only a few successes ever come simple. Whether or not it is title wins or high three finishes, each WSL season is changing into tougher to foretell – and loads of golf equipment, together with Tottenham, have their eyes on the prizes.
Spurs began the 2026/27 season with assertion wins in opposition to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, profitable by an mixture of 11-0 – however they got here crashing again right down to earth with a 6-1 defeat to London Metropolis Lionesses earlier than the worldwide break.
It might have supplied Tottenham boss Martin Ho and his gamers a pointy reminder in regards to the activity they’ve on their palms in the event that they wish to end within the Champions League spots this season – and it doesn’t get any simpler with Chelsea and Arsenal to return within the subsequent two video games, beginning at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities.
However the ever-pragmatic Ho is not going to have forgotten that. Spurs have gone from relegation contenders to European consideration in lower than 18 months underneath the previous Brann boss, however any path to the highest is not going to be straight ahead.
Talking solely to Sky Sports activities, he mentioned: “You are at all times optimistic that it could actually go properly, however I am additionally practical that you do not simply have this long-term success. It is not linear, there’s going to be ups and downs, however I do know in order for you long-term consistency, you are going to must have this.
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Highlights of the WSL sport between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.
“We won’t simply go from being a workforce that is been combating on the backside of the desk to go and problem for the [WSL] trophy and make that profitable and constant over years to return. There is a course of to that however the ambition is at all times to be on the high of that desk.
“Since coming in, I’ve tried to push requirements, push the expectation with workers and gamers to offer us a platform that may give us a possibility to progress.
“The gamers deserve plenty of credit score for that as a result of they take the data and run with it. They play with braveness, bravery, with persona which is what I requested for and their dedication and willingness is top notch.
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“Perhaps there have been occasions early on once I thought it was going to take rather a lot longer to get to the place we wish to be identity-wise, however the gamers deserve the credit score as a result of they’ve enabled us to perhaps speed up somewhat bit faster than what I most likely thought.”
A part of that has come by way of shrewd recruitment, significantly this summer time. Spurs signed Champions League winners Victoria Pelova and Alice Sombath from Arsenal and Lyon respectively, Caitlin Dijkstra additionally joined from Wolfsburg in just some of the spectacular incomings.
All of it follows Ho’s plan of bringing in several experiences from league, European and worldwide ranges to strengthen the squad and add a metal they have been maybe lacking in his first yr.
“We felt like we would have liked sure qualities in sure positions and people gamers which have are available in have allowed us to try this,” Ho mentioned.
“They’ve additionally been in environments the place they have been competing in several methods, they’re going to carry these experiences right here which was essential for us that now we have a various atmosphere and tradition.
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Highlights of the WSL match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
“You additionally wish to ensure you get a stability additionally between the youth and expertise of the squad. You wish to get a stability of the place you are feeling relationships will be constructed and the place they are often long-term on the pitch.
“Alice [Sombath] was a kind of in that place the place she’s had such great experiences at Lyon of profitable titles, but in addition internationally, she’s obtained actually good credibility at such a younger age. The chance to carry her in was large for us and somebody now we have adopted for some time.
“Then individuals like Victoria [Pelova], who’s coming off the again of a long-term harm. She was perhaps low of confidence and wasn’t in a spot the place she felt her soccer might go ahead. The chance to carry her right here after having these conversations was essential.
“She’s been a part of a profitable tradition and a profitable atmosphere and people environments are what we wish to carry to the membership, which she will share and we are able to lean on these experiences from her.
“However since she’s are available in, she’s been excellent by way of giving her the passion once more to play soccer, however giving her the boldness and perception she will obtain what she needs by way of personal ambitions.”
On October 24, Pelova can be reunited together with her former Arsenal team-mates within the north London derby on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It’s the web site of Spurs’ solely win in opposition to the Gunners in any competitors, and given their rivals’ personal dismal begin to the season, is likely to be sensing one other.
Earlier than that although, a resurgent Chelsea – and one other perception into whether or not this Tottenham workforce have what it takes to compete in opposition to the WSL’s finest.
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Forward of the London derby this weekend, check out a number of the finest objectives from Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur.
“It’s a must to present a willingness to compete in these video games first,” Ho mirrored. “You go in with the mindset and the target is at all times to win the sport, however now we have to take a look at the method behind that first and the efficiency has to assist you to be in that place psychologically.
“Are they going to be robust video games? one hundred pc, however they’re the video games you wish to play and I wish to play in as a coach, the gamers wish to play in. The industrial curiosity is huge in these as a result of they’re London derbies so it’s important to embrace them as a participant.
“However they’re those the place you’ll actually see the character and perception of the group, they’re those the place you may actually see the event and the progress of the workforce, however one sport would not let you know should you’re a very good workforce or a nasty workforce.
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Highlights of the Ladies’s Tremendous League match between Tottenham Hotspur and London Metropolis Lionesses.
“It perhaps provides you some solutions by way of the place we have to go and the path we have to go in, but it surely would not outline you.”
After a bruising defeat practically two weeks in the past, Spurs can have a degree to show of their subsequent two video games. Whereas they won’t outline them as a workforce, it might go a way in defining the place they end come Could.
Watch Tottenham vs London Metropolis Lionesses Chelsea vs Tottenham within the WSL stay on Sky Sports activities Soccer and Combine from 11am on Sunday; kick-off 12pm.
Watch free in-game clips and match highlights shortly after full-time on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms.