Tottenham taught harsh lesson as wait to end long trophy drought continues
They had gathered in the Royal Box en masse, each brimming with expectation and excitement. Not since 2008 had Tottenham Hotspur toasted a trophy triumph – no one wanted to miss it.
Not chairman Daniel Levy. Not his fellow board members. Not Ledley King or Gary Mabbutt. Not Ossie Ardiles or Ricky Villa.
Each of the last four has, in Spurs colours, experienced ascending Wembley’s famous staircase, weary legs propelled by joyous adrenalin.
But for Tottenham’s women, that walk was as sullen as it was arduous. A medal? Yes. A trophy lift? No. Instead, they had to regather on the grass, hands switching between hips and respectful clap, and gaze up to watch Manchester United’s celebrations. “It’s OK to be angry, sad, whatever they want to be,” said Tottenham head coach Robert Vilahamn. “That’s a part of football. You should feel that today, and then use it next time.”
Perhaps the occasion got to Spurs? Vilahamn’s squad had visited the venue the week before last. The sense of theatre, the carnival, oozing from cup finals can be a lot – even for experienced professionals. They wanted to ensure that come game day there was familiarity. Sadly, after 90 minutes of effort, exertion but no elation, familiarity may well have bred contempt.
Vilahamn was appointed last summer during a process overseen by managing director Andy Rogers. Pre-match, Rogers drew parallels between the styles of the women’s side and Ange Postecoglou’s men’s team. The intensity; the high press; the risk. But also, evidently, the propensity to leave themselves wide open to a hammering.
“We will learn from this,” Vilahamn insisted. “I think all the players will learn about how their bodies work in this sort of game. We want to have these big games. We want to be able to perform.
“It’s not only the players or coaches – it’s the whole club. It’s been a good journey this year. If we want to be a top team in women’s and men’s football, we want to perform on this stage. This experience will help us to the next stage.”
A four-goal difference felt fair. United’s experience told and Tottenham’s stars pulled up just short. These occasions are so often about heroes and villains, and sadly Spurs goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer was the latter. United had just scored their second via Rachel Williams when Spencer fluffed her short
pass. Within moments, Lucia Garcia was celebrating. Spurs were already flailing against the ropes – with that they toppled over them.
These occasions are also about fine margins. True, Spurs would still have had a steep, slippery mountain to climb, but had Beth England’s header bounced off the bar and over the line, they would have had hope. It did not. They had none.
That is the glass half-empty take, anyway. Undoubtedly, Vilahamn’s message to his squad as they huddled dejectedly at full time will have been that their tumbler is still continuing to fill. Yes, defeat will smart. But the Spurs project cannot, and does not, succeed or fail on a single afternoon. “We are closing the gap,” Vilahamn said. “But we haven’t closed the gap yet.”
Their progress has been rapid. Last season’s Women’s Super League relegation battle has been swapped for a comfortable midtable finish. Until the end of the 2019 season, when top-flight promotion was secured, the club were propped up by volunteers, playing home games at non-league Cheshunt. Now they have a swelling fan base, a progressive manager and exciting, home-grown talents such as Jess Naz. “It was not the end today,” Vilahamn said. “It was just the beginning.”