Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn aims to emulate Ange Postecoglou’s style ahead of their Women’s Super League opener against champions Chelsea
- Robert Vilahamn is vowing to entertain after being appointed as Tottenham boss
- Spurs will begin the Women’s Super League season against champions Chelsea
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Robert Vilahamn, the new manager of Tottenham’s women’s team, has been a keen observer of Ange Postecoglou’s successful to start to life in north London.
Both coaches were hired by the same recruitment team and with the same goal in mind – to create a ‘Tottenham identity’ through their style of play.
Postecoglou is unbeaten in his first six Premier League games. Vilahamn knows a similarly flying start may be tough for his team, with Women’s Super League champions Chelsea first up on Sunday. But the manager, who arrived from Swedish club Hacken, is aiming to entertain.
‘When they [Tottenham] recruited me there were the same recruitment staff recruiting Ange,’ Vilahamn says.
‘So they talk about how Tottenham want to play, they look for those coaches, me and Ange are probably playing in quite a similar way, we lead in a certain way which is also quite similar.
New Tottenham women’s boss Robert Vilahamn has vowed to deliver brave attacking football
The Swedish coach wants his team to play in a similar way to Ange Postecoglou’s men’s side
Vilahamn, second right, revealed he was hired by the same recruitment team as Postecoglou
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‘It’s going to be that identity where you see “now it’s Tottenham playing football”.
‘Tottenham want to play a style with the men’s team and the women’s team, academy and I think me and Ange try to do the same stuff with how to play, not the same formation all the time but trying to be brave enough to play good, offensive football.
‘In the long run you’re going to see a Tottenham that dictate games, press high, want to lean forward and try to score a lot of goals.
‘The men’s team are already winning games. Hopefully we can have a good start, make some good results, but I also need to have respect against the top teams in the league.’
Spurs finished a disappointing ninth last season after managing to claw themselves out of the relegation battle towards the end of the campaign.
Vilahamn, knows results may not come overnight, especially with star striker Bethany England set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery.
‘We still have a long way to go because last season was not the best and the players were not in the best shape,’ Vilahamn says.
‘We shouldn’t expect Tottenham to win the league this year, we need to make sure we show the supporters, the board members and everyone that we play better football.
Tottenham finished ninth last season after clawing their way out of the relegation battle
Spurs start to the season has been complicated by the loss of Bethany England to a hip injury
Vilahamn’s side will begin the season with an away trip to reigning champions Chelsea
‘You look two years ago they [Tottenham] were finishing fifth, perhaps they didn’t play the best football but they finished fifth. But I think [they] were a little bit tricked, that they were better than they were, or players had a really good season and other teams had a bad season.
‘I think last year they started to lose and they started to change formations and players and they got injuries. When you do that, you lose your identity.’
Vilahamn has been encouraged by his conversations with chairman Daniel Levy, who he describes as a ‘really good businessman’.
‘My last interview was with Daniel Levy and it was mainly about making sure the women’s team is something we are proud of, a team that everybody can come and watch, that’s Tottenham standard.
‘We’re starting from the ground and it’s going to take perhaps two years but I’m going to take the time because I know in the long run you’re going to win games.
‘But the most important thing is to show you guys we play Tottenham football.’
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