As Tottenham Hotspur prepares to kick off their season against West Ham United, head coach Martin Ho is focused on authenticity and building a competitive team. Following a fifth-place finish last season in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and a productive summer transfer window, Tottenham is aiming to make a significant impact this year.
Ho, who has been cautious about setting expectations, acknowledged the progress made but emphasized the need for ongoing development. "I’ll never put a ceiling on anything," he stated. "We still got a lot of work to do. We can’t just have one season and expect ourselves to be this world-class team, but I believe we can be competitive in those cup competitions." This sentiment reflects the club's ambition to not only improve in the league but also make strides in various competitions.
This summer, Tottenham made headlines with the acquisition of several notable players, including UWCL champions Victoria Pelova from Arsenal and Alice Sombath from Lyon. These signings are part of a broader strategy to enhance the squad's depth and experience. Ho explained, "We had to be proactive to get ourselves on a level playing field with the teams around us, but we have to also follow ourselves and be authentic and organic with what we do." This approach aims to ensure that the team remains true to its identity while also being competitive.
Despite not participating in preseason, Sombath is expected to play a pivotal role for Tottenham this season. Ho expressed his commitment to developing her into a robust player capable of handling the league's intensity. He remarked, "I want to make sure that we have Alice for the long term and not just in short-term spells with injuries." Meanwhile, Pelova is gradually returning to form after recovering from an ACL injury, with Ho focusing on rebuilding her confidence and enthusiasm.
In addition to Pelova and Sombath, Tottenham has strengthened its attacking options by signing forwards Kirsty Hanson and Shekiera Martinez, the latter being West Ham's top scorer last season. Ho is particularly excited about Martinez's potential, stating, "We’ve got some player on our hands. She’s dynamic. She’s quick. She can finish in front of goal, as everyone’s seen." The coach's focus is on positioning Martinez effectively to maximize her scoring opportunities.
While the departure of captain Beth England to Crystal Palace is a setback, Ho believes the team can collectively share leadership responsibilities. He emphasized the importance of accountability among players, stating, "I expect each individual to lead and show some accountability and responsibility for their behaviours, their actions, their performances." This philosophy underlines his coaching style, which has evolved since he joined the club last year.
As Tottenham gears up for their opening match against West Ham, Ho is keen to address the issues that arose during their preseason match against Real Madrid, particularly in terms of communication and defensive organization. He noted, "What a good way to start: a London derby. We know West Ham are physically very strong, very dynamic as a collective, but very robust and organized as a defensive unit." Ho is aware of the threats posed by West Ham's attacking players, including the pacey Ebony Salmon, and is preparing his squad to meet these challenges head-on.
With a deeper and more varied squad, Ho is confident that Tottenham can be more unpredictable this season. He has urged his players to be ready for any situation that may arise during matches. Ultimately, Ho is optimistic about the team's trajectory, asserting, "We should be spoken about in a team that wants to compete at that end of the table, not this end of the table. And I’ll make sure that we do everything we can to be spoken about in that way." As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Tottenham to see if they can live up to their ambitions in the WSL.
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