In our season finale on the south coast, we had to fight until the very end to ensure we wrapped up our best-ever season in England’s top flight with another important victory – still the only team in the competition to have never lost on the final day of the season.
We had to come from behind though, after Madison Haley handed the Seagulls the lead three minutes after the break, as Olivia Holdt blasted home from close range in the final nine minutes of regulation time before Toko Koga produced a superb finish from distance to claim the maximum points.
Speaking to us afterwards, Martin reflected on a dramatic afternoon at the Amex Stadium: “The players were wonderful in terms of those who started and who came in. Everyone's contributed to the success this season.”
“All plaudits should go to the players and the staff. I think what they've done today - and throughout the season - reflects where we are now. To come back from being one behind, to go on and win the game, and actually manage it really well at the end, huge applause to the group.”
He was asked about how Toko’s goal at the end reflects on the young defender’s first season at Spurs….
“If you look at her age, she probably plays above her years as a player. As a person, she's wonderful, always wants to learn and is a leader quietly. Leadership is different in different ways, she shows that by action and how professional she is. She was deserving of that. I think what she's done all this year, she's performed at such a high level for a young player, she's just turned 20 and the future's really bright for her. When she hits that ball, under pressure, off balance, I think it shows the signs of the quality she has.”
On Olivia netting her 10th goal of the season and a remarkable first full campaign in Lilywhite…
“I know the quality Oli possesses, we have to make sure that we challenge her and we keep giving her some comfort too because you don't always hear that part you have to develop. We know what she's good at, we get her in the right areas, we get her with confidence and a good enthusiasm, and she can affect any game. I thought for spells of the game, first half definitely, second half in flashes, she was very, very good, but when she gets in those moments, if it's going to drop to someone, probably with her quality technically, you want her to land to. It was a superb finish.”
On the importance of ending the season with a win to build momentum for the next campaign…
“The way you finish is probably how you're remembered. We started with a win, we finished now with a win, and we can make sure we go away from here with confidence and a lot of motivation to come back in the summer after a well-deserved break for the players and the staff, psychologically and then also physically to reset. When we do that, we come back in with the same intentions going into next season.”
On what he has learned from his first season at Spurs…
“It's been different. I've learned a lot. I don't have all the answers, as I always say. I've still learned lots as a Head Coach. I have wonderful staff and players around me to help me understand that. I just make sure that every day I come in, I give absolutely everything - I support the staff, I challenge the staff, same with players and make sure that I can try and take this club back to where it wants to be. if I can play the small part in that, then yes, I'll be happy.”
On his final message to the fanbase for their support this season…
“They've been wonderful. The whole season we've grown in numbers, we've also grown in stature as a club and the relationship between those players and fans has grown massively - that's a credit to the players and the fans. You have to enthuse them. You have to give them something to talk about and something to shout about. The players have done that this year. Every single game, that's grown, whether that's home and away, and we need to make sure that if we want people to come and watch, we have to make sure we perform at a high level and it's entertaining. I think today definitely was.”