Man Utd 0-1 Spurs | Robert’s verdict: “We had good control of the game”
Mon 16 September 2024, 07:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Robert Vilahamn was pleased to end our pre-season programme with a positive performance at St George’s Park in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Facing fellow Barclays Women’s Super League side in our final friendly ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, which begins next Sunday (22 September) at home to Crystal Palace, we put in another strong display to maintain our unbeaten run during pre-season, making six wins out of six games.
Although we couldn’t capitalise on a number of opportunities in the first half, we eventually found the breakthrough midway through the second half as Martha Thomas, against her former side, fired home from inside the box to net her third goal in pre-season.
Marc Skinner’s side pushed for an equaliser but we defended resolutely in the closing stages, limiting them to very few chances, and Robert heaped praised on his side’s performance, in and out of possession.
“It was a good last game before the start of the season,” Robert told SPURSPLAY. “In possession, we had good control of the game, great build-ups and created some really good chances as well but, you know, we needed to make sure we could defend because Manchester United are a very good team and we looked so controlled, even without the ball.
“They [the players] were communicating and making sure everything that we have worked on in pre-season came together, so it was enjoyable to see them do that, and also the players that came into the game, everyone came in with the same energy.”
When asked about Martha’s goal, he replied: “She’s a brilliant striker, she can score those goals and she’s good for the team, but the build-up for that goal, it’s a throw-in and we have a lot of combinations, Anna [Csiki] did this good first touch and then the through ball… it’s a beautiful goal and I feel it’s a team goal.”
Three of our summer signings were involved in the clash at the Football Association’s national football centre - Hayley Raso, who completed just over an hour, Clare Hunt and Anna – and Robert spoke about the impact they have made throughout pre-season.
Robert added: “I mean you can see all the players giving us exactly what we need, look at how Clare dominates the build-up, calm on the ball, and she’s only 25-years-old but already a leader. Hayley got some really good minutes in her and then you look at the rest of them, they are giving us so much different stuff, we are really happy with all the signings."
