The pre‑season buzz this year has largely revolved around Manchester City’s attempt to defend their Women’s Super League crown and the prospects of a revamped London City squad. In contrast, Tottenham Hotspur Women have been quietly perfecting their game, building on the platform laid by Martin Ho during the previous campaign.
A key figure in that ongoing development is Danish forward Olivia Holdt. She arrived at the North London club in January 2025 under the guidance of then‑manager Robert Vilahamn, who immediately labelled her the team’s "X‑factor" and predicted she could become one of the league’s elite performers.
Those lofty compliments brought with them heightened expectations, and Holdt has already begun to justify the hype, even if she does not dominate every headline. Her season opened in spectacular fashion with a hat‑trick in a 7‑0 demolition of Crystal Palace – a result Holdt herself described as "special".
Tottenham remain unbeaten in the WSL, occupying second place, three points shy of Manchester City and a single point ahead of this weekend’s opponents, the high‑profile London City. The Danish international’s confidence was evident in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the match, where she said: "It’s still early, there are plenty of games left and it will be a long season, but so far things are looking very positive. No one is annoyed that we’re second; we’re proud of our position and it’s earned because our performances have been strong in the opening fixtures." She added that the upcoming clash with London City would be intriguing: "They have invested heavily this summer and brought in quality players, so it will be a good test. We hope to keep our momentum and secure three points on Sunday as well." The outcome of that encounter could shape Tottenham’s final standing in May, especially when followed by two more high‑stakes matches after the international break against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Those fixtures will provide a clear gauge of where the Spurs side stands among the league’s heavyweights. So far, Tottenham have netted the most goals in the division – 15 in just four games – while conceding only twice. Their brand of possession‑based, quick‑transition football has been both entertaining and effective. If they maintain these statistics and remain within the top three after the next three games, they will be hard to dismiss as genuine title contenders.
Holdt reflected on the team’s attacking output: "Scoring 15 goals in four matches shows how well we have gelled. It doesn’t matter who puts the ball in the net as long as we win 7‑0 or 4‑0. Everyone is contributing, and if we keep this up, many players will end the season with a few goals each.
The most important thing is securing the three points; the individual scorers are secondary." Looking ahead, Holdt emphasized the significance of the upcoming tests: "It will be a good challenge for us. No disrespect to the teams we have already beaten, but those were games where we expected to take all three points. Facing Chelsea and Arsenal will be a different level – a chance to see how we measure up against clubs that have dominated for years.
I believe we can stand our ground and give them a strong performance." Holdt has been one of the most reliable performers under Ho’s tenure and finished last season as Spurs’ leading scorer, with ten goals in all competitions, eight of which came in the league. Their partnership appears mutually beneficial and instrumental to the club’s resurgence. Speaking about her relationship with the manager, the Denmark international said: "Martin is an excellent coach who has helped me raise my game.
He instils confidence and energy, and we also share a good rapport off the pitch. There is mutual respect; we can disagree openly, and he tells me the hard truth without sugar‑coating it.
Sometimes the conversations get heated, but we both want what’s best for each other, and that honesty has been key to our success." Although Holdt has primarily operated on the right wing, this season she has drifted more centrally than last year, and she is comfortable wherever Ho decides to place her. "Since joining Spurs, I have played in several positions.
We are still figuring out where I can contribute most and where I can extract my best performance. Ultimately, Martin makes the decisions – if he wants me on the right, I will be there; if he prefers me as a number ten or even on the left, I will adapt." She continued: "I view myself as a versatile attacking player, so my exact spot on the pitch matters less than the overall game plan and the quality of teammates around me. Being able to operate in different areas can also make it harder for opponents, as they never know where I will appear." Looking forward, Holdt and the Spurs squad hope that this flexibility and collective drive will continue to upset the traditional WSL hierarchy. Their upcoming fixtures against London City, Chelsea and Arsenal will be pivotal moments in a season that already promises excitement.
Fans can catch Tottenham’s clash with London City Lionesses live on Sky Sports Football at 1.30 pm on Sunday, with kick‑off at 2 pm, and will be able to view highlights and in‑game clips shortly after full‑time via Sky Sports’ digital platforms. Additionally, viewers have the chance to enter the Super 6 competition for a shot at a £1 million prize, with free entry available.