"The way we're playing at the moment suits me" - Summanen
Thu 16 November 2023, 14:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Eveliina Summanen says it was an easy decision to commit her future to the Club given how much she is enjoying the style of play.
Signing a new contract that will run until the summer of 2026, the Finland international has become a key player at the heart of our midfield since joining from Kristianstads DFF in January, 2022 and believes the new way of playing Head Coach Robert Vilahamn has instilled in the group is well suited to her own attributes and is contributing to her happiness in Lilywhite.
"I'm very happy to be here," beamed the 25-year-old. "I'm very happy the Club wanted me to stay here, it was an easy decision for me and I'm looking forward to the coming years.
"I feel relaxed playing, everyone has clear instructions about what to do but at the same time a little bit of freedom on the pitch. The way we're playing at the moment suits me and suits pretty much everyone in the squad at the moment so I'm enjoying it a lot."
Eveliina has started all six Women's Super League matches so far in 2023/24 and certainly made her mark on our impressive early season form under Vilahamn, contributing a sublime curling free-kick and an assist for international teammate Olga Ahtinen in our 3-1 win over Bristol City in October and helping us remain unbeaten ever since that first league win with some solid displays in midfield.
As well as adjusting quickly to the new tactics and demands placed on the football side of things, our number 25 understands consistency is needed to maintain the high performance levels set so far but is determined to play her part and feels the quality in the group is strong enough to sustain our strong start to the campaign.
"First of all, I want keep understanding the tactics and the way we play and then try to keep consistency throughout the whole season," said Eveliina. "I think that's important for the whole squad and the individuals, that's how we're going to get wins and results from each and every game.
Watch - Highlights of our win over Bristol City
"Keeping that consistency is one of the most difficult things in football, especially throughout the whole season, but we have a good enough squad, staff and everyone else around us to push each other every single day. We have all the tools to keep our consistency and then it's down to us to sustain it."
Alongside summer signings such as Olga strengthening the group on the pitch ahead of the season, the Finn admits the positive atmosphere in the whole squad off the pitch is also a big contributing factor towards our good form and the midfielder is thoroughly enjoying the environment at Hotspur Way.
"I've enjoyed working with Olga a lot," she explained. "It's quite easy when you have someone who speaks the same language as you do and it's nice to speak on and off the pitch in your own language because it brings that home vibe as well.
"But, it doesn't matter who I play with, everyone in the squad is an amazing football player with a great personality so whoever I get to play with I'm happy. It's important you want to come to an environment where you have good people around you and you can spend time talking about things other than football; that makes us better on the pitch as well.
"It's nice to come into the training ground every day to get some work done and then transfer that into the games where we're able to perform. Obviously there are still things to improve in each game and I'm sure there will be new things to improve but so far it's been nice and relaxed."
