Vilahamn on 2024/25 season so far | “We’re taking steps to be more consistent”

With the festive break in full flow until the New Year, Robert Vilahamn spoke to us to reflect on the first half of the 2024/25 campaign and the lessons learnt for his side in that period.

Sitting sixth in the Women’s Super League after wins over Crystal Palace, West Ham and Everton helping us to accumulate a total of 11 points after 10 games, our Head Coach has felt the first stage of the campaign has been about ‘development’.

However, there has also been success in the Women’s League Cup after an unbeaten group phase, picking up maximum points against Charlton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, saw us progress to the quarter-final for a fourth consecutive campaign.

With the next couple of weeks an opportunity for players and staff to recharge before returning in the new year, we sat down with Robert to get his thoughts on the last five months…

First of all, how would you reflect on the first half of the campaign?

Robert: “I think we started the season well, we had a really good pre-season, the new players settled in well and we won the first game. We then had a tough spell of games where we didn’t really reach the results we wanted, we had some good moments in these games but we weren’t really consistent enough, we also picked up a few injuries in these games as well which had a big impact on the results, I would say. But then, great character, hard work from all the staff and players to get back and get the points, while still improving their game.

“The last four games we did some really good defensive work, which we needed to develop, and then we scored some really nice goals, creating chances, being brave in the build-up so, I think, the identity is still there, we’re taking steps to be more consistent but over these last five months or so, we have learnt that we needed to develop the defensive work and when we do that, we can get the performance and result we need.”

Do you feel there has been plenty of learning and development over the last five months?

Robert: “When we lost those five or six games, some of them with big numbers, and got those knocks, there were two ways we could go, down and keep losing or we could find ways to get back. We, as staff and players, found a way to get back and that’s how you develop, going through those tough times and deal with them, learn from them and you find ways to get better. We ended the calendar year with four games in a row without losing and two goals conceded across those games, so we have definitely learnt how to improve on many aspects.”

How pleased have been with the impact of the young players have made so far?

Robert: “Both for the Club and for the fans, but also for me, we all want to have this young and talented team, that can improve and help us close the gap to the teams at the top. So to get these young players in, it’s crucial for the Club and that’s how they do it on the Men’s team and that’s what we want to do on the Women’s team, to show you can come through the pathway here and get minutes to all the way to the Lionesses, just like Jess (Naz), that’s the identity we want to have, so I’m very pleased and very happy for Araya (Dennis) to score that goal, happy for Lenna (Gunning-Williams), it’s very interesting to see how they have adapted to this step.”

Lastly, how important has the support you received so far this season?

Robert: “It has been so great to see them there. We lost a few games in a row, but they’re there, coming back, singing for us, cheering for us and supporting us, so that’s true support when you do that and, for us, that was crucial for us to bounce back in the last four games. Obviously we do everything we can to push forward and win for them, we’re Tottenham Hotspur together, we can feel it and I believe they can feel it too – that we’re one unit.”