Tottenham boss Martin Ho on the threat Manchester City can cause with Grace Clinton | OneFootball

Grace Clinton (8 Tottenham Hotspur) during the FA Womens Super League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Brisbane Road in London, England (Alexander Canillas/SPP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Ho says that his side are fully aware of the threat Grace Clinton can pose them if she makes her Manchester City debut on Friday.

The England international – who spent 2023-24 on loan at Tottenham – has not yet featured in a City squad following her cross-Manchester move earlier in the month, but has been in training with her team-mates this week.

Spurs welcome City to London in the Women’s Super League tomorrow as they seek to extend their winning start to the season – and Ho is very familiar with the abilities of City’s big deadline-day signing having worked with her in the past.

“Grace is a wonderful player,” he told journalists in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon.

“I’ve worked with Grace for numerous years while I was at Everton and worked with her at Manchester United too. Wonderful player, super-talented, and more importantly we have to make sure we stop Grace if we come up against her on Friday.”

“Tottenham can cause them problems”

City’s new manager Andree Jeglertz is still shuffling his pack as he settles into life in the WSL, having taken on the hot seat after the conclusion of the Euros, where he led Denmark. On the opening day of the season, his side lost 2-1 to defending champions Chelsea, but got their first win on the board last weekend as they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1.

And of course Ho has been watching future opponents to assess how his team could set up against them, so he has a good idea of the danger City have, with or without Clinton.

“A different coach brings a different style and a different kind of organisation with them,” he pointed out, adding some reflections on City specifically: “They’re playing a slightly different structure in terms of how they build up, from the defensive side they’re a little bit different too.

“They pose high threat. I’ve seen their games recently, the players don’t change even though the manager changes. They have a high level of quality within that team and they have a very good attacking threat individually. When collectively they put their football together they’re one of the best teams in the UK.

“I know it’s going to be a tough game, but more importantly I back our players and the team to make sure we’re competitive. I believe we can cause them problems when we get in the right areas.”