Whenever West Ham United face Tottenham Hotspur, it’s a battle, and Hammers manager Rehanne Skinner can’t wait for her side’s opening game of the Barclays Women’s Super League season against their London rivals on Sunday.
A trip across the capital to face the Lilywhites is certainly a mouth-watering clash to commence the 2025/26 campaign, and there is sure to be a good atmosphere when the two teams walk out of the tunnel at BetWright Stadium for the 12noon kick-off.
Skinner’s side enjoyed plenty of success against Spurs last season, defeating them in the Subway® Women's League Cup quarter-finals and WSL, and she will hope her team can make a lightning-fast start to the fresh season with a positive result and performance at the weekend.
Her squad contains new faces having been busy over the summer transfer window, with the arrivals of Sarah Brasero, Ffion Morgan, Yu Endo and Leila Wandeler bolstering the east Londoners’ depth. Skinner insisted the increased competitiveness for starting spots will only serve as a positive for her side throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland international Jess Ziu joined Barclays WSL2 side Bristol City on a season-long loan, and Skinner, in her pre-match press conference, hailed the midfielder's attitude after she recovered from her second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last month.
For Spurs, a big change to their team has come in the dugout, with Martin Ho replacing Robert Vilahamn over the summer. Whilst Ho has only been in charge since July, Skinner is expecting to see similarities in Tottenham’s playing style to how Ho set up his former sides, including Norwegian outfit SK Brann.
With a fully-fit squad at her disposal, the Irons boss sat down for her first pre-match press conference of the season on Thursday afternoon. Here are the main talking points…