Rehanne: “We made life really difficult for them”

Tottenham Hotspur Women Head Coach was delighted with her side’s performance in Sunday’s 1-0 win at home to Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

“We played incredibly well,” she said after the game. “I thought we were fantastic in the first half, really moved the ball well and created loads of problems for Liverpool. We had 10 opportunities and took one of those. 

“We need to probably be a little bit more ruthless in those moments, but I thought we made life really difficult for them. The second half was a little bit different and they wanted to make the game scrappy and quite direct, but we’ve got to deal with different types of opposition and those moments. We held on in the game and made sure that there wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity for them, so I’m really pleased to be at home and win 1-0 with a clean sheet.”

Drew Spence hit the post from distance and Ashleigh Neville struck the bar from close range as Spurs controlled the first half at Brisbane Road.

“We want to be more ruthless and we’ve been working a lot in and around the goal and I think that shows with the chances that we’re creating,” Rehanne commented. “We wanted to make sure that we made it as obvious as what the performance deserved in the first half and I don’t think we really did that with the scoreline. At 1-0, anybody thinks there’s an opportunity to throw everything at it, which obviously Liverpool did, but we absorbed the pressure really well and saw out the game.

“We need to make sure that we maintain the good quality on the ball because I think that helps us to build into games and show the good quality that we’ve got, but every game you have to be prepared to do the moments in the game that are the harder stuff - the bits where you have to be a little bit more determined and show that grit and that you care. 

“We don’t want to concede goals and we definitely showed that in the second half. I’m pleased that we’ve shown the character that we’re about in both parts of the game.”

Celin Bizet created our goal with a cross into the box that Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey diverted into her own net, and Rehanne has been really happy with the summer signing this season.

“I’ve been really pleased with Celin,” she said. “She’s been on international camps so she was starting to fatigue a little bit towards the end of the game, but I think she’s shown the quality that she’s capable of. She is tidy on the ball as well so I think we’ll just start to see more and more of her coming to life because she’s creative, quite positive and confident. When you’ve got those things and you see that coming out, she’ll definitely continue to grow in our team.”

More than 2,000 fans were in attendance at Brisbane Road on Sunday to enjoy the first WSL game at the ground.

“I’m really grateful and I was delighted to hear them all the way throughout,” Rehanne said about the support. “I also love the fact that there was a little sing off between them and the Liverpool fans and our fans were one hundred per cent louder. That acted like a twelfth player for us. It was so great for the atmosphere that was created in a new venue, people coming out and supporting us in our first game at home, the players certainly appreciate it, as do I. 

“I think it’s been a fantastic day today for everybody and the experience has been great, so keep coming! We want to see you again and we certainly want to see everybody at the end speaking to all the players and wanting to get signatures and things like that. We’re happy to meet and engage with all of our fans.

“We’ll reflect on this one and put things in place ready for the next one. We’ve got Manchester City at home next and have got to make sure that we keep working as hard as we can for the clean sheets and to make this place really difficult to come to and that’s going to take time. We certainly want to see all the fans back and supporting us again and helping to lift us with the atmosphere. I’m really looking forward to that one as well.”