While much of the pre-season chatter centred on Manchester City’s WSL title defence and how London City’s new-look squad might fare, Tottenham were quietly going about their business, building on the foundations laid under Martin Ho last season.
One of the players who helped do that is Olivia Holdt. When she joined the club in January 2025 under former boss Robert Vilahamn, he described her as having the ‘X-factor’ and the potential to be one of the best players in the league.
Big compliments, big expectations – and Holdt has certainly shown why Vilahamn described her as such, even if she is rarely in the headlines.
She has already begun this season with a hat-trick in a 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace – something Holdt describes as ‘special’ – with Spurs yet to lose in the WSL. They sit in second, three points behind Man City and a point ahead of this weekend’s opponents – headline-grabbing London City.
“It’s really early on, there’s still a lot of games to come and it’s going to be a long season, but so far, it’s looking really good,” Holdt exclusively said ahead of that game on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
“There’s nobody thinking it’s annoying that we’re second right now and we’re very happy to be where we are, but it’s also deserved because our performances have been really good in the first couple of games.
“I’m looking forward to Sunday. It’s going to be interesting to play against London City. It hasn’t gone past anyone that they’ve really invested coming into the season and got some really strong, good players.
“It’s going to be a good game. Hopefully, we can continue our boom right now and get three points on Sunday as well.”
Such a game could go some way to defining where Tottenham finish come May. So could the following two after the international break as they face Chelsea and Arsenal in successive WSL matches.
They will offer a real insight into this Spurs side. They have scored the most league goals (15) and conceded just twice, seeing the better of the possession and playing quick, attacking football. Come out of these three matches still in the top three and still leading in these metrics, Tottenham surely have to be considered as title contenders.
“It’s going to be a good test for us,” Holdt said. “And no disrespect to the teams that we have played, but they’re maybe more of the games that we expect ourselves to get three points out of.
“So coming up against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, it’s going to be a really good for us to see where we stand and how we can compete against them. It is a level up.
“If you look at the players, they have been at the top for many years, but whenever we play them in this season, I think we will be able to stand up for ourselves and give them a good game.”
How ‘mutual respect’ with Ho has helped make Holdt key performer
Holdt has been one of the most consistent performers under Ho, and was Spurs’ top scorer last season. She netted ten goals in all competitions, with eight in the WSL. It is clear their relationship is one that has been mutually beneficial in Spurs’ success.
“He’s a great coach and he’s helped me a lot in getting my performances good in the league,” the Denmark international said.
“I think it’s his ability to give the players confidence and energy and believe in themselves. We also have a good relationship outside of the pitch as well.
“We have a mutual respect for each other. I can disagree with him and he can disagree with me. I think that’s why it’s worked well for us because we can be honest with each other. Martin can tell me the hard truth and I’ve told him not to beat around the bush.
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“Sometimes it can get heated, but at the same time, we both want the best for each other and we have this mutual respect. It’s good.”
While Holdt has been used primarily on the right wing, she has drifted more across the middle this season compared to last, and says she is happy to play wherever Ho wants her to.
“I feel like since joining Spurs, I’ve played some different positions,” she added. “We’re trying to figure out where I can help the team most and where I can get the best out of myself.
“But at the end of the day, Martin is the one who takes the decisions, so if he wants to play me on the right wing, I’m going to do that. If he wants to play me as the 10, then I’m happily going to do that. If he wants me on the left, I can try and do my best there as well.
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Highlights of the WSL match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa
“I like to see myself as a versatile offensive player, so where I’m exactly positioned on the pitch doesn’t really affect me that much as long as the game plan is set, and I have good players around me that can help me find my role.
“It’s nice to be everywhere a bit, and maybe it makes it harder for the opposition as well. They never know where I’m going to be.”
Holdt and Spurs will be hoping that is the exact case over the next few weeks as they look to maintain their disruption of the WSL order.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
