Spurs defender says Tottenham are ‘ready to be respected’ in the WSL this season | OneFootball

Charli Grant is preparing for her second season with Tottenham this year

Tottenham women have enjoyed a good start to their pre-season and Charli Grant believes the club is ready to be respected in the WSL this year.

Spurs finished 11th in the league last season – their worst finish since getting promoted in 2019.

Tottenham are ready to be respected

After such a disappointing year in 2024/25, Tottenham need to step up their game this year.

Ahead of the new season though there seems to be a much better mood around the camp.

Tottenham enjoyed a successful start to their pre-season in what was a thriller against their North London rivals.

“It’s been really good around the team,” Spurs defender Charli Grant said. “The mood is really good, and I think that win against Arsenal was really good for the confidence and for the belief going into the upcoming season, especially after a tough season last year.

“I think we’re making really great steps, and the intensity has lifted a big amount. So, I’m really loving pre-season so far.”

Spurs came out on top in a seven goal thriller at Meadow Park which gave them plenty of encouragement.

“We’ve got a really great group of players and to come together again with a lot of positivity after a tough season,” Grant said. “It just shows what characters we have in the team.

“I think having a good base is really good going to the season, because having connection on and off the pitch is huge for performing. It’s really positive that the girls have signed and want to stay and it just shows the confidence we have in one another.”

Tottenham aren’t done with pre-season just yet, as they face Southampton on Sunday, August 31st.

Fresh start for Spurs under Martin Ho

Robert Vilahamn’s team were just 10 points off Crystal Palace at the bottom of the table last season.

As a result of the lacklustre campaign, Vilahamn was sacked and replaced by Martin Ho.

“We’ve been loving working with Martin,” Grant said on the new head coach. “He’s really brought in a lot of intensity to the group and is just trying to build our confidence and belief in ourselves.

“He’s been a lot more encouraging and brought a lot more intensity to what we’re used to. I think what we’ve had at Tottenham, he’s just building on even more so.”

Grant played in 10 WSL games last year in her debut season with Spurs.

“He’s taking big steps into being confident on the ball, with a possession-based game. He’s talked a lot about just being brave in those scenarios, and running hard and working hard for each other,” Grant concluded.

Ho has signed just one player so far in the summer window, with Toko Koga joining from Feyenoord.

Tottenham kick off their season against West Ham on Sunday, September 7th.