Ahtinen on first season in Lilywhite: “It has been a lot to take in” | OneFootball

Olga Ahtinen reflected on her first full season at the Club as our 2023/24 campaign came to end on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 26-year-old became a Lilywhite at the beginning of the season, joining from Swedish top-flight side Linköpings FC, and was named vice-captain by Robert Vilahamn ahead of her first season in England.

And the Finland international made an instant impression and was influential in the early part of the campaign, starting in our first six matches, and scored her first goal for the Club in our 3-1 victory over Bristol City.

However, Olga picked up a knee injury against Liverpool in November, ruling her out for up to two months, which she admitted was the longest spell on the sidelines in her career so far.

“A lot happened in my first season,” as Olga reflected on her debut campaign in N17.

“At the beginning, I was playing a lot and then I got injured and I haven’t had that type of injury before so, I feel, it was a lot to take at the time.

“In general, a new country, new culture, new league, and new players around me, so I feel it has been a lot to take in. However, we, as a team, are always learning, more about each other, how we want to play and we make sure we are building all the time.”

The midfielder was a second half substitute in our final game of the season against the Hammers, replacing Ramona Petzelberger in the 58th minute, in what was her 20th appearance of the campaign, and Olga was pleased to end on a positive note at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We wanted to end the season with a victory and to do it here, at the stadium, in front of our fans, was a good feeling,” she added.

“It has always been special to play here, it creates such a special feeling, especially when we get more and more people to our games, it’s amazing.”

Watch - Matchday Uncut | Spurs Women 3-1 West Ham United