Tottenham Hotspur

Lize Kop felt there were a number of positives to take from our narrow defeat to Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

The Netherlands international, who was making just her second appearance in our colours in N17, was in inspired form against the Barclays Women’s Super League champions, producing four key saves to keep us very much in the contest with the Blues.

However, Catarina Macario’s first half penalty was enough for the visitors to run out 1-0 winners in the London derby as our final home game of the season ended in defeat, although Charlotte Grant and Eveliina Summanen both went close to a leveller.

Watch the highlights from our clash with the Blues

Reflecting on the strong performance, Lize spoke to us after the game: “It’s disappointing to not get a point out of this game.

“We played really well, but it was frustrating to concede a goal from a penalty. We did well in possession, we found ways to break the press, and I think that was really good. There were still moments we could have done better, of course, and that’s still frustrating.

“It was good that we learnt from the last game as well, like we knew they were strong at corners, so I thought we did well in those moments.

“It means a lot that we’re still improving and working on moments where we need to be better, so that’s a positive to take out of this game. We played so much better, especially against a team like Chelsea, it’s really good and we can take that into Everton.”

Asked about her on personal performance, she added: “I always try to focus on my task and there are always little things, of course you want to make the saves, support the team in these moments, because it’s only 1-0 and you only need to score one goal to get a draw. Those moments were important, but the whole team worked so hard.”

Watch | Kop's reaction on the defeat to Chelsea

It's quiz time! Guglielmo Vicario became the 40th player to captain us in the Premier League when he led us out at West Ham on Sunday. But can you name all 40 players?

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, 40 different players have started a Premier League game for us as captain. How many can you name?

Well that is the challenge we're proposing to you!

To take on the challenge, click the green 'Play Quiz' button below to get started before inputting your answers in the box titled 'enter player'.

You will have 10 minutes to name as many of the 40 players as you can. To help, the amount of games they captained the club are listed next to the answer box.

Helpful tip: If the player you are guessing has a multiple word surname, such as 'Giovani dos Santos', just type in the final word, ie. Santos, to score the point. For players with double-barrelled surnames, such as 'Cameron Carter-Vickers', you need to write the full surname, ie. Carter-Vickers.

Best of luck!

Name our 40 Premier League captains

Spurs U18 vs Chelsea U18 | Key Highlights | 2024/25  Tottenham Hotspur

Archie Gray racked up appearance number 42 this season at West Ham on Sunday, describing each one as ‘priceless’.

The versatile young defender/midfielder, who only turned 19 in March, clocked up his 25th appearance in the Premier League in his debut campaign at the club, this time in a right-back role as Ange Postecoglou switched around his back four in what turned out to be a scrappy affair at London Stadium.

Reflecting on the draw and particularly another appearance, Archie spoke to our Review Show afterwards. “I'm just grateful for the gaffer trusting me in these different positions, it's priceless experience at this level,” he said. “I'm grateful for every appearance that I get, and I just want to work my hardest and show what I can do in every game.

“This was a tough game today, there wasn’t much time on the ball, but it was another good game to be involved in and to get another appearance. If we couldn’t win it was important for us not to lose the game, now we can take that into Thursday (UEL semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt).

“It’s been a great season for me, obviously we've had tough times, that’s part of football, but we've got such a golden opportunity in these next few weeks.”

Robert Vilahamn was pleased with the strong performance in our final home game of the campaign but, once again, he was left frustrated to not come away with a point as Chelsea secured a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite a strong start from ourselves in N17, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when they were awarded a penalty. Catarina Macario, who won the spot-kick after she was fouled by Ashleigh Neville, calmly converted to put the Blues ahead – and that proved to be enough for the WSL champions.

We created a number of opportunities to find a leveller in the game, Charlotte Grant denied one-on-one by Hannah Hampton on the stroke of half time while a free-kick from Eveliina Summanen whistled just wide of the post, as we were unable to break down one of the best defences in the league.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game, Robert told us: “The performance and how we were brave on the ball, how we tried to play, it’s something to be proud of, I think to play against Chelsea and playing that style, it was very good.

“But then, of course, we lose again and that’s very frustrating as I actually think we deserved a least one point. This year has all been about not nailing it, but we are going to learn so much from this, we are still so brave, still so good in the game and we just need to make sure we get better in the penalty box. We need to score more goals, we need to defend a little bit better, but this was a big step against a top team to see how we acted.”

Robert on finding ourselves behind at the break…

“We need to be honest, we are not good enough in those phases of the game and we’re losing game because of that, so we need to make sure we develop that because we shouldn’t have lost as many games as we have done this season. That’s something we need to be better at but, performance-wise and how we want to develop the players, how they’re taking steps, it was massive to see.”

Robert on taking the positives into Everton next weekend…

“The last four or five games have been so much better in performance but now we want to have a win before we go into the summer break, to make sure we get something emotionally as well with it. It has been tough to say every week ‘we had a good performance when we’re losing’ so I’m hoping we can have a good performance and win that game, make sure we go into the summer break, reload, take the right steps and learn from this season.”

Robert on being back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…

“I mean, we love this stadium. We can feel it with the fans, this is our home, this is where we want to be, and I can see everyone that is here is also enjoying it. I think the football becomes so much better here because you can play the style you want to do here, the pitch is so much better and bigger, so this is our happy place and even though we lost, we feel at home, and we really enjoy to be here with our fans.”

Robert on a message to the supporters…

“I’m just so proud of them for supporting us, every game, we haven’t been great to return wins for them this year, but the way they support us, the way they come back and cheer for us, it’s one of the coolest things for this Club, to have those fans behind us and we will do everything we can to take steps.”

Ange's latest on James Maddison's injury...

"It doesn't look great, but we're just waiting for further information. We'll just wait and see. Hopefully we'll probably get some clarity tomorrow. It's fair to say it doesn't look promising, but I'll just wait and see."

Ange on Dominic Solanke...

"Dom's improving. We obviously left him out today but the medical team are pretty confident he should be right for Thursday."

Ange on if performances from players today could come into his thinking for the UEL semi-final, second leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday...

"Yes, I did. I think it's part of the process to make sure these guys are ready. Last week we certainly weren't preparing for Lucas Bergvall to get injured the day before the game. So, the guys have got to be ready and Biss was ready and was one of our best players on the night. The beauty about today was that a lot of our guys who haven't played a lot of minutes recently, we've got some real meaningful minutes and I thought we did well on the day. It's important for Deki to play. He's missed so much football with his injury and he's just getting back into some rhythm. Pape, Archie Gray, the two wingers, Mathys and guys like Djed and Kevin, I just think it's really important those guys play and we have Biss back up again for another 90 minutes and even Richy to play again. It's been a juggling act for sure to try to get to a position where we've got a squad that's capable of tackling what's ahead. We're still cursed with some bad luck along the way, but I was really pleased the guys got the minutes today. They're actually meaningful minutes. They had to work hard and I think they showed that they're going to be ready for Thursday."

Ange on Deki Kulusevski's fitness...

"He's getting better. There were moments in the game where you started seeing he's moving a lot freer. It takes time. You're missing a couple of months of football. For any player it takes a while. It's just about getting fitness and getting some match rhythm. I was pleased for him today. The thing with Deki is he just works his socks off all the time. I just felt you could see some of that ability to beat people and turn in tight areas and run with the ball, it was coming back. I was also pleased with his discipline today. They had a really aggressive attacking line-up out there. He had to do a really important defensive job for us and I thought he did that well."

Ange on Mathys Tel...

"Again, we're asking some big jobs of him, playing on the left and then in the centre. He's constantly learning. A lot of our guys I know will develop into top footballers. They have to go through this process of learning and adapting and understanding the demands of the Premier League and the demands of this football club. We've asked a lot of Matty since he's come in. He's pretty much played in every game at some point. He's taken in the information and he understands the role a little bit better, especially out on the left. Again, important for us. These last few weeks we've obviously had Sonny out. We've needed him to fill that void and I think he's done that job well."

Ange on the performance of the back four...

"I thought they handled themselves well. I thought Archie was really good, good to get him back. He was disappointed with Liverpool last week but, again, that's part of his learning. I'm sure he'll have reflected on that day and he's going to make sure that the next time he gets that opportunity, he'll handle it differently and better. I'm sure he will because he's that kind of personality. I thought he was really good today. Kevin again, it's so important to have him back. The fact that he got through 90-plus minutes was excellent. Benny and Djed have been important for us all year to be available. Like I said, you can have the best laid plans like we did last week, but then we lost Lucas on the eve of the game. I need to know guys are ready. That's why we've been giving them game time. I'm comfortable that whether it's the back four or the rest of the boys who played today, if we need to make a decision that means one of them starts, I'll be more than comfortable in them doing that."

Ange Postecoglou described the players’ efforts as ‘first rate’ after a hard fought 1-1 draw at West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Clear-cut chances were at a minimum at London Stadium - two efforts on target each - as Wilson Odobert’s first Premier League goal, set up by Mathys Tel on 16 minutes, was cancelled out by Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser 12 minutes later.

Richarlison, starting up front in Dominic Solanke’s absence, one of only three survivors from Thursday night’s UEL semi-final, first leg alongside Guglielmo Vicario and Yves Bissouma, went close on a couple of occasions. Meanwhile, Vicario, starting as captain for the first time, saved superbly from Bowen in the second half.

Speaking to us on the Review Show, Ange reflected: “It was a tough test and credit to the lads, it's not easy, making eight changes to the team, the players don’t have the cohesion, the fluency of playing regular football, playing together. Also, I only made one substitution, so a lot of guys played a lot more minutes than they have recently, so, credit to them. I thought we were well disciplined, well organised, disappointed with the goal we conceded but, aside from that, I thought they really stuck to the task. Obviously, we didn’t win the game, but I’m pleased they get some reward because I thought their efforts today were first rate.”

Ange on his changed up team facing a test against West Ham...

“I thought that was important, obviously we rested a few, but we also got some minutes into the guys where a lot of them haven’t played a lot recently like Archie, Deki’s missed a lot of football, Wilson, Matty, Pape, Djed, Kevin, all these guys… and it’s important, as we saw last week, losing Lucas on the eve of the game (first leg against Bodo/Glimt) and Biss came in, you need the guys ready. Thankfully, they all came through unscathed and that sets us up well for Thursday.”

Ange on Yves Bissouma...

“His season has probably reflected everyone else’s, the whole group. I don’t think disruptions have helped Biss, either. At the same time, they have to take responsibility for their own performances. He was ready for Thursday, and I thought he was outstanding, again today, he hasn’t played a lot, but he’s backed it up with 90 minutes. He was the one I thought I could risk in terms of minutes out there because he’s a strong guy, resilient, I thought he led that midfield well. Super pleased for Pape and Deki, as well, as they haven’t played a lot recently, so getting through a strong, 90, 95 minutes is important.”

Ange on Mikey Moore coming off the bench for his first minutes since February...

“He’s been working hard in training. Mikey hasn’t had a lot of opportunities, but good to get him some minutes today to keep him ticking along.”

Ange’s latest on Dominic Solanke and James Maddison...

“Dom’s improving every day. It made sense not to bring him along today, but we’re pretty confident he’ll be right. Madders... less optimistic. We’re still getting some more information, but that could be more of a concern for us.”

A valiant performance against the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League winners came unrewarded as a first-half penalty from Catarina Macario saw Chelsea secure a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

We started strongly in our first ever meeting with the Blues in N17 but, just after the half-hour mark, it was the visitors who opened the scoring as Macario converted from the spot after Ashleigh Neville was penalised for a foul on the forward.

Undeterred by going behind, we continued to apply ourselves well and had a number of opportunities to grab an equaliser - Charlotte Grant was denied on the stroke of half time while Lize Kop was in fantastic form at the other end to keep the deficit at one in the second half.

Despite pushing until the very end, we were unable to break down a stubborn Chelsea side as our final home game of the campaign ended in a narrow defeat.

Robert Vilahamn made three changes to the team that started against Liverpool last time out as he welcomed back Drew Spence and Eveliina Summanen from suspension, while Grant also came into the starting XI.

We started well under the sun in N17 as Jess Naz saw an effort blocked inside the box before a teasing cross from the left by Bethany England was just too far in front of the advancing Grant in the six-yard area. We continued to pile the pressure early on, Olivia Holdt on this occasion seeing her first time strike deflected over the bar after Neville’s cutback found the midfielder in the centre of the box. However, despite our positive showing in the opening half-hour mark, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 33 minutes.

Macario advanced into the box before eventually being brought down by Neville just inside the 18-yard line and, having won the penalty, the Chelsea forward stepped up to take the spot-kick, blasting her effort into the side-netting and sending Lize Kop the wrong way. But, with three minutes left on the clock in the first half, we should have grabbed an equaliser when Grant raced through clean on goal but Hampton produced a strong save to deny the defender one-on-one while, at the other end, Kop had to push Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s effort on the turn to her left.

Looking for a response after the break, Eveliina Summanen was inches away from curling home her free-kick from around 20 yards out before we were indebted to Kop as, at full stretch, our number one pushed Maika Hamano’s curling strike around the post. Chances were few and far between for large parts of the final half-hour as we tried to overcome a resilient Chelsea defence while Kop had to remain alert as, in the final minute of normal time, she produced an outstanding double save to keep us in the contest. Getting down low to her right to keep out Oriane-Jean Francois low effort, she was up quickly to block Sjoeke Nusken’s rebound at the near post.

Six minutes of injury-time was indicated, and we pushed everyone forward in search of a leveller. In the final minute of the six shown, we were awarded a free-kick just inside our half and goalkeeper Kop was sent forward, Summanen delivered the set-piece into a dangerous area and, after a Molly Bartrip’s flick-on caused a scramble inside the box, we were unable to capitalise as Chelsea cleared the ball, condemning us to defeat in our final home game of the campaign.

Ange Postecoglou had optimistic news on Dominic Solanke before a ‘less optimistic’ update on James Maddison after our 1-1 draw at West Ham on Sunday.

Both players missed the Premier League derby at London Stadium after departing early from our UEFA Europa League semi-final, first leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.

Midfielder Madders - on target in our 3-1 win against the Norwegians - was substituted just after the hour mark, while striker Dom felt something in his quad muscle and left the action on 75 minutes.

Speaking to our Review Show from the London Stadium, Ange was asked for an update on the pair and told us: “Dom’s improving every day. It made sense not to bring him along today, but we’re pretty confident he’ll be right. Madders... less optimistic. We’re still getting some more information, but that could be more of a concern for us.”

Speaking later in his press conference, Ange said on Madders: "No, it doesn't look great, but we're just waiting for further information. We'll just wait and see. Hopefully, we'll get some clarity tomorrow. It's fair to say it doesn't look promising but I'll just wait and see."

And on Dominic, he added: "Dom's improving. We obviously left him out today, but the medical team are pretty confident he should be right for Thursday."

It's quiz time! Wilson Odobert extended our Premier League record for the most different scorers in the competition for a single club as he became our 176th different goalscorer in the league with his strike at West Ham on Sunday. But, can you name all 176 of our goalscorers?

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, an incredible 176 different players have found the back of the net for us in the top flight. How many can you name?

Well that is the challenge we're proposing to you!

To take on the challenge, click the green 'Play Quiz' button below to get started before inputting your answers in the box titled 'enter player'.

You will have 20 minutes to name as many of the 176 players as you can. To help, the amount of goals they scored for the Club in the Premier League plus the country they are from are listed either side of their relevant answer box.

Helpful tip: If the player you are guessing has a multiple word surname, such as 'Giovani dos Santos', just type in the final word, ie. Santos, to score the point. For players with double-barrelled surnames, such as 'Cameron Carter-Vickers', you need to write the full surname, ie. Carter-Vickers.

Best of luck!

Name our 176 Premier League goalscorers