Fielding questions from assembled members of the press after overseeing Tottenham’s first victory in the Barclays Women’s Super League since the concluding stages of March, Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn heaped praise on his substitutes following their impact from the bench during his side’s 3-1 victory over capital rivals West Ham United.
‘It’s easy to make substitutions when you have those great players on the bench. Whoever I pick is going to look good. The mixture of this team and the understanding is the best,’ he commented post-match.
The Swedish manager was also complimentary towards the consistency of his side after playing three games in seven days – including the final of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup against Manchester United.
‘[It’s been a] perfect finish for this year, I am very impressed with the girls. They can perform after the third game in seven days, and how they can perform that good.’
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing England international Grace Clinton being honoured with two of the three end-of-year awards (Supporters’ Player of the Season and Junior Supporters’ Player of the Season) for her unforgettable performances throughout the campaign, Vilahamn kept his cards close to his chest as to whether the on-loan Manchester United midfielder would return to the capital for next season.
‘It is players we want to bring in, and of course, she is on that list. We need to discuss what we are going to do with that. That work starts on Monday.’
Vilahamn also shared his views for next season and his vision for the club in the foreseeable future – including a potential tilt at playing European football in the coming seasons.
‘When I signed here, I had a clear view in my head to make sure we were going to rebuild and have an identity, and then the second year it would be nice to compete for the Champions League spots.’
Ultimately, everyone associated with the club will consider the 2023/24 WSL campaign a successful one – courtesy of finishing three positions higher than last season and accumulating a further 13 points.