Presser Points | Liverpool vs Spurs (WSL) | Martin Ho

Here are key points on what he had to say…

Martin on being disappointed to not keep a clean sheet last weekend…

"It sets a high standard, high expectation for what the players expect, what we expect and maybe the mentality of where we've moved from. You're happy with three points, first game of the season, you want to get off on a good run, but I think there's definitely expectations for us, especially defensively, to make sure that we defend those situations better as a collective."

Martin on how quickly Kirsty Hanson settled in…

"I think, as a person, I have no doubt she will fit in. Her character, the way she is as a professional, very structured and organised in terms of what she does, so I have no doubt she would fit in from that perspective. I think what's been probably pleasing to see is an adaptation to playing style, different training environments, building relationships and connections with players around them really, really fluidly. It's been nice to see and I think now the more and more Kirsty gets a clearer understanding, more clarity of the people around her, I think you'll see a much better Kirsty Hanson moving forward."

Martin on what he can expect from Liverpool…

“A very good team. Very good in terms of the way they play, very aggressive off the ball and very dynamic with that high, mid-pressure. Then with the ball, very fluid, organised, efficient, positioning very good. You can see the organisation they've got. They've got some really good players. You can see in terms of their confidence has flowed, their momentum and enthusiasm are good. We need to make sure that we're at our best. It'll be a tight game, I feel. We need to make sure in those games that the small margins and whoever executes better will win the game.”

Martin on Liverpool’s development over the past year…

"They've definitely developed, grown and shown a lot more continuity as a team under Gareth [Taylor]. Maybe when he went in there, he's had to find a change in his methodology to what they want him to do. I think you can definitely see how they play now and how they want to play. They had to contend with so many different things. I have a lot of empathy for what they went through with Matt [Beard] and Jon [Humble] and the things they were facing in that period, which can be difficult because different people deal with those situations in a different way. So, I have total empathy for that period they went through and then now, I think they're in a really good position where they can really compete."

Martin on the reaction he has seen from the first competitive game…

“More the improvement with relationships, connections and understanding. In six weeks, it's hard to completely transform them because you can't teach someone and get someone to understand that quickly. What we can expect is more continuity in terms of the level of performance individually, but I think the players, since the first game, have dealt with it well. We are now a very competitive squad, so everyone wants to play, everyone wants to be on the pitch. You can only pick an eleven if you feel it's going to start the game, but you will naturally finish differently when you make changes. So, I think that's added big value to us and the players understand now more, in terms of as a collector, whether you start or you finish the game, or you come into the game or you don't contribute.”

On the importance of physicality to be able to compete in the WSL…

“We just try and replicate what most coaches will say. You say the game is the extension, but I think in a training week, you will just try and demand certain physical traits and physical behaviours that I expect, principle-wise, and then try and bring that to the players in terms of this is the expectation. But we know if we're in the middle of the pitch for any team, if you look at the quality and the breadth of talent in the middle of the pitch in any team in the WSL, it’s very, very high. If you want to be competitive, you have to be forceful, you have to be dominant, you have to be very good one-v-one. We just try to lift those levels a little bit in pre-season in terms of making us more competitive and work on aspects that will make us more competitive.”

Predict the score | Liverpool vs Spurs

On what he said to the players after West Ham win…

“Positive performance, three points. Looking at a lot of the positive aspects in terms of goalscorers, chances created, which you said, maybe that more clinical edge with us. Then defensively, really good with lots of parts of the pressure, the aggressiveness to what we've done to our play off the ball but then making sure that we don't switch off and concede at the end.”

On his main takeaways from Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Charlton Athletic…

“Very good individual players, very good as a team in terms of their organisation. We know they're very flexible and fluid with how they play and have certain kind of traits that they're very good at. Then defensively, very organised in a lot of high-pressure phases, and can defend their half and their box really well. We took a lot from that game, but also we played against them before. So, we know we're trying to find the right game plan and the right idea to make sure that we come out on top on the weekend.”

On Drew Spence’s longevity in the WSL…

“I think, as a person, she is wonderful and has huge respect from everyone in the building from staff and players. Her performances and her ability to want to adapt and change physically, technically, tactically in terms of what she's done, I think she's taken huge steps. She's given herself that longevity, so she needs a lot of praise for that. But what she gives us as a group, I have massive respect for Drew as a professional, as a person for what she's done, not just for Tottenham as a Club and what she does here now, but what she's done for the game. She's faced maybe a lot of adversity throughout her career of playing and not playing, but she's used all those experiences now to put herself in the position she is in, I believe, and she's grown from that. Drew can play for as long as she wants. She's sharp, she's fit, very intelligent and I think she's a wonderful player for us and is a really key part of what we're trying to do.”