Presser Points | Charlton vs Spurs | Robert Vilahamn | OneFootball

Robert Vilahamn faced the media at Hotspur Way this afternoon ahead of our first game of the Women’s League Cup group stage against Women’s Championship side Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Wednesday evening (7.15pm UK).

Here’s what he had to say…

Latest Team news

First up for Robert, he was asked about the latest team update heading into Wednesday night’s game…

Robert: “Luana [Buhler] is back in the squad which is good news. Ella [Morris] had a small setback from her previous injury so she will rest for tomorrow. But, otherwise, everyone else that has been involved still remains available.”

On depth in the squad

Robert was then asked on the importance of the depth in the squad with three games in seven days…

Robert: “I think this cup competition is a good opportunity to give more players minutes and actually compete so, for me, it’s about using the whole squad in these games. We have a lot of good players, so it’s not like I’m rotating and I don’t care about the result, I know I will put out a really strong starting XI on the pitch and I know those players are ready to show what they can do for this club.”

Performance at Villa Park

Following our 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday in the WSL, where Bethany England netted an injury-time equaliser to secure a point, Robert was asked about the performance at Villa Park…

Robert: “When you look at the performance and watch it back, it’s not the standard we usually have, especially in possession, but it was against Aston Villa at Villa Park, a good opponent that made it difficult for us. There were some phases of the game we need to develop, but it’s all part of the journey we want to do. We want to play a certain style, we want to press in certain way but some games you need to find ways of getting points, and we found a way to get a point even if we didn’t have a good performance.”

On Charlton Athletic

The Addicks head into the Women’s League Cup fixture on the back of four wins on the bounce in the Women’s Championship, leaving them top of the table at the moment, and Robert was asked about what to expect from the opponents…

Robert: “They were competing at the top last season and they gave us a really tough game in the FA Cup, and now they have started a brilliantly so far. It’s not going to be an easy game... I have enormous respect for them as I feel they are pushing to be in the WSL. It’s going to be a tough game but we are prepared for it.

“I have looked at them from last season and in the first four games, and you see a structure there, an organisation of high-quality and how they maximise their players. It’s a very competitive league this campaign but they have started very well and, I think, they will be one of the teams to compete for the WSL. I must say I’m impressed with how they look, how they play and how they win games.”

Ellie Brazil

He was then asked about Ellie Brazil, who spent two seasons at the Club, and her start to the new campaign, where she has scored three goals in four games…

Robert: “I’m very happy for her that she’s getting the game time and the goals that she deserves. She’s a brilliant and professional footballer, it makes me happy to see how she’s performing. She will be a threat for us because she’s quick, can cover a lot of ground and is a goalscorer but, on the other, we handle good strikers every game and we know how to try to minimise their space, it’s going to be an interesting game to see what she can do against us.”

Bethany England

Our captain grabbed her first goal of the 2024/25 campaign when she scored the equaliser at Villa Park, netting her 75th goal in the WSL, and Robert was asked ‘how nice is it to work with such a mature leader and player like Bethany?’

“To work with that professional athlete, how she handles every single situation even if she not starting a game, how she has a speech for the group… she a super captain for me. I just love to work with her and, I mean, we have so many good players. Martha [Thomas] had a fantastic pre-season, so she started the first two games, but Bethany came on and you need that if you want to be a top team in this league. She acts like a role model for the other players and the goal she scored in the last game was very important for us. She will get a lot of minutes tomorrow and we will keep building her as she a big character in this group.”