Ambitious Spurs eye Champions League spot after WSL rise

Tottenham was living in the shadows of a Women’s Super League relegation fight a year ago.

They have 23 points from 12 games, and they are only one goal away from each other, which means they are now equal on points with third-placed Arsenal.

Can Spurs advance to the Champions League next season with a top-three finish, then, does this question not seem outrageous?

Few, if any, of the club’s recent transformation, under the leadership of Martin Ho, who took over last summer after Spurs finished second bottom in 2024-25, have been positive.

Ho’s side have won four games while remaining unbeaten, including draws against Manchester United and Aston Villa as well as victories over Leicester City and Leicester.

The Foxes defeated them for the second time in a week, winning 3-0, to advance to the final 16 of the Women’s FA Cup, continuing their upward trend on Sunday.

And the former United assistant doesn’t want to restrict the goals of his team.

Norwegian side Brann advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Women’s Champions League without putting a cap on what they could accomplish.

You run the risk of restricting yourself as soon as you do that. We can work hard, behave well, and behave both on and off the pitch, and we can achieve a lot.

In 12 WSL games, Spurs have won seven and drawn two, and they have made their goals clear during the transfer window in January.

If the club’s goals didn’t match mine, Ho said, “I wouldn’t have joined.”

The ownership has invested a lot in the team since its arrival, including in players, staff, facilities, and infrastructure.

They want this team to consistently compete in Europe and compete for honors domestically. Although it takes time, there is still support.

The club has acquired Swedish duo Hanna Wijk and Matilda Nilden from BK Hacken in addition to Norway internationals Julie Blakstad and Signe Gaupset.

Meanwhile, top-ranked Japanese international Maika Hamano has signed for Chelsea until June on loan.

Ellen White and Jen Beattie, both of whom spoke on BBC Women’s Football Weekly, both agreed that Spurs’ transfer business is a reflection of a club trying to challenge the status quo.

They are undoubtedly competing for Champions League spots, Beattie asserted.

“Why not?” He doesn’t want to put pressure on players, and what you say internally and externally can mean something.

They will recognize the quality they possess internally. Anyone can compete against them.

White remarked, “Spurs have recruited really well, and we’re seeing a lot of players from Norway and Sweden.

Gaupset, who is regarded as one of the best young talents in the world and worked with Ho at Brann, was a coup for Spurs to secure the signing of 20-year-old Gaupset.

Blakstad, 24, signed for Hammarby after two years at Manchester City starting in 2022, but he only made 36 appearances.

Gaupset claimed she wanted to work with Ho and that she saw ambition, but “she had lots of options and big teams wanting her.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing Blakstad as well. I simply believe it to be intelligent hiring, really exciting, and gives you more depth.

Gaupset made her debut to help Tottenham win the Champions League by defeating Leicester 1-0 last Sunday.

Beattie praised her judgmental behavior.

When you can win the player of the match in 60 minutes, it shows how well she read the game and found passes behind. She was brilliant and hit the nail on.

Gaupset appears to have years of experience in terms of her technical skills, football IQ, and quality.

She was always offering to play ball, always moving, and physically strong. She has a really exciting talent and offers Spurs a different attacking perspective.