Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Thu 2 April 2026 20:10, UK

Martin Ho has insisted Tottenham Hotspur Women are ready for their “biggest test” of the season as they prepare to face Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Spurs head into Monday’s clash looking to keep their season alive, with the competition now their final opportunity to end the campaign on a high.

After recent heavy defeats in the league, including losses to Arsenal and Manchester City, the gap between the Lilywhites and the division’s established elite has been highlighted.

Though, the FA Cup offers a different proposition, with Ho’s side just one win away from a semi-final and a potential trip to Wembley.

Despite the challenge of facing one of the Women’s Super League’s top sides, Ho has insisted that Spurs will approach the match with relief rather than pressure.

Martin Ho makes Chelsea point clear as Tottenham look ahead to FA Cup opportunity

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the clash on Easter Monday, Ho outlined the magnitude of the occasion at Kingsmeadow, alongside the respect that his side have for their London rivals.

“It’s the most prestigious competition in England. A cup competition that you play at Wembley as a final,” he said. “Who doesn’t want to play there as a coach, as a player, and as a club?”

The current campaign has been labelled as a transitional one for Chelsea, with the Blues sitting nine points behind league leaders Manchester City, while Arsenal sit two points behind, with two games in hand.

“They don’t become a bad team because you’re not top of the WSL,” said Ho. “Look how many seasons they’ve won the league consistently, then the Champions League and progressing to the latter stages.

“So, under no illusions, they’re a good team.”

Chelsea’s relative size in the women’s game adds to the challenge ahead for Tottenham, with Ho admitting: “There’s no bigger test than Chelsea, so we’ve got to make sure we’re really at it.

“We should want it more than just needing it. When we play with freedom, and we play our way, then I think we perform at a really high level.”

Tottenham handed chance to respond with season-defining result

With European hopes all but gone, the FA Cup is Tottenham’s final opportunity to make one last statement before the campaign concludes.

It has been a fantastic year overall for the club, with Ho offering a huge improvement on last season’s 11th-place finish, having the Lilywhites occupying fifth in the WSL with only a handful of matches remaining.

Spurs would reward Ho for his excellent work last week, handing him a new long-term deal alongside winger Matilda Vinberg.

“We go into this game with the belief and confidence that we can get to a semi-final and compete against Chelsea, which we’ve shown in our games that we can when we’re at it,” he added.

The gap to the seasoned elite has been highlighted in recent weeks, with 5-2 losses to both Manchester City and Arsenal.

But, Tottenham are looking to build for the future under Ho, and they have a fantastic chance to test themselves against one of the established few once again – and make a big statement in the process by booking a semi-final spot.