Tottenham Hotspur head coach Martin Ho believes his team is ready to face a reaction from this weekend’s opponents, Chelsea.
The Lilywhites are set to play against the Barclays Women’s Super League champions at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea’s title defense has taken a hit after consecutive losses to Arsenal and Manchester City, but Spurs boss Ho isn’t taking anything for granted and is cautious of a response from the South West London side.
“They are an outstanding team, and anyone who thinks that losing two games makes them a bad team is grossly mistaken,” Ho said during the pre-match press conference. “They are a fantastic team with excellent players and a remarkable manager.
“They’ve faced two top teams in Arsenal and Manchester City, and those matches were tight in terms of chances created. Unfortunately for Chelsea, the results haven’t gone their way, but we anticipate a strong response; we know they will be a threat. They have dynamic players in the attacking line and exceptional talent in central positions, including some of the most decorated midfielders in world football, so we must be vigilant.”
Tottenham was narrowly defeated 1-0 by Chelsea in their previous encounter last October. Ho emphasizes the need for his side to maintain their defensive strength while improving their composure in possession.
He stated, “In that match, we had to defend a lot and spent considerable time without the ball. Chelsea created many opportunities, including crosses and actions in the final third, but our defensive performance was solid. We weathered significant pressure and were fortunate, with a superb goal from a world-class player in Keira [Walsh] sealing the victory for them.
“We’ve built on that performance, and since then, we’ve had several commendable outings. We need to be more effective on the ball, show more courage and individuality, and display character when we have possession. Defensively, we need to maintain our robustness and compactness. We must be difficult to beat yet proactive. We need to make sure Chelsea understands they are in for a contest.”
Tottenham Hotspur returns to their main stadium this weekend, and Ho expressed the club’s excitement for this important occasion.
He said, “As a team, these are the matches you desire to be part of. Playing at the stadium is a huge opportunity for us, as a team and a club, to provide the fans something to cheer for in a London derby.
“It’s my first game there, so I’m genuinely looking forward to it. We are very excited, but we need to perform at our best if we want to win; we must be at the top of our game.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s Barclays Women’s Super League match against Chelsea is set to kick off at 2:25 PM this Sunday. Tickets are still available for purchase by clicking here.
