| date: Sunday, April 14th venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kick off: 12:00 BST coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, keep up to date online and see highlights on the BBC Sport website. |
Tottenham captain Bethany England knows what it takes to win silver, but facing Spurs in the Women's FA Cup semi-final is new territory.
England won back-to-back titles with former club Chelsea, winning four league titles and two FA Cups during seven years of success.
Spurs weren't even competing in the top tier when England won the Women's Super League trophy for the first time, but Spurs' rise has been rapid and the striker hopes to lead them all the way to Wembley.
They face Leicester City in Sunday's Women's FA Cup semi-final (kick-off 12pm BST) as both teams battle to reach the centerpiece of Wembley for the first time in the club's history.
Tottenham have improved on and off the pitch since being promoted to the WSL in 2019, but their progress hasn't always been smooth sailing. England joined the club, which was in the relegation zone, in January last year and her goals helped keep the team afloat.
They have soared up the table this season under new manager Robert Villahamn, and England say it is a position the club wants to get used to in the future.
“We started this season at a different level to last year,” England told BBC Sport.
“We are in a much better position in the league and we are performing better. We just want to keep improving the way we play.
“It is the club's ambition to make this permanent. We are not here to just make up numbers.
“Tottenham are a huge club and we are definitely trying our best to be in the top four.” [in the WSL]. You will see progress in a short period of time.
“Going forward, we always want to be in a position to challenge for titles, get into the later rounds of cup competitions and win everything we can for this football club.”
“We're giving our fans something to believe in.”
England quickly established himself as a fan favorite at Tottenham. Scheduled to join in January 2023.
She helped the club avoid relegation by scoring 12 goals in 12 WSL games last season, and was captain this summer, scoring the equalizer in the 96th minute. Victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals last month.
She had to wait until this year to make her mark After hip surgery But England said he was “really proud” to be part of the team that will make history in this tournament.
“First game of the season at Stamford Bridge, even if we lost that game, it was end-to-end and there were definitely moments we could have taken. That set the tone for the rest of the season,” England said.
“Watching these girls put on that courageous performance and go into the game without fear… I think that's the biggest thing we're going to see from this season. The players are expressing themselves. He’s starting to play more freely.”
“It's always going to be an exciting year for us. The club has brought in great staff and knowledgeable people. It shows in our performances and we look forward to producing even more quality football. was completed.”
“There have been huge changes at the club from top to bottom, giving the fans who pay their hard-earned money to come watch us every week something to enjoy and something to believe in. We share this heartache with you. I know.'' The club had it. ”
“It's going to be a battle and we have to be ready for it.”
Tottenham's reward for defeating WSL leaders Manchester City was to set them up alongside Leicester City, who, like Spurs, had never reached this stage of the competition before.
The other semi-final will see last year's finalists Manchester United face Chelsea, so it's a great opportunity for both clubs to progress.
“Everyone thinks it’s amazing. [to have a new finalist guaranteed]”I agree with that, but I can imagine Leicester were thinking exactly the same thing when the draw came,” the England international said.
“The same teams have won because they know how to do it and are at the top of their game. It's about being able to challenge them and put them in difficult positions. Now it's up to us and I think it's going to be exciting for all the fans.”
“The team needs to keep their feet on the ground. If you think they're Leicester and they're already in the final, they can get into dangerous territory. But they've recovered as much as we have this season. Showing power.
“It's going to be a battle and we have to make sure we're ready for it and not get ahead of ourselves. If we spend all our energy thinking we're already there, then at that point we has already lost.”
