In the English Super League, Tottenham secured their place in the league when the team beat Reading 4–1 on Saturday. Tottenham rose to 17 points and league jumbo Reading fell to 11 points.
Tottenham’s Finnish players Tinja-Riikka Korpela and Eveliina Summanen were able to breathe a sigh of relief before the final round of the series, which will be played on Saturday, May 27. However, according to Korpela, the series place was not celebrated.
– Above all, it was a relief, as you can kind of relax now, because the matter was taken care of. That victory was celebrated. It was nice to win after a long time, says Korpela.
The last time Tottenham won was in mid-March, when Leicester won an important 1-0. In that match, the top striker who joined the club in January scored the winning goal Bethany Englandwho finished with two goals in the match against Reading that secured the league spot.
The English striker has been a vital player for his team. League leader from Chelsea with a transfer compensation of around 287,000 euros (you switch to another service) acquired England has scored 11 goals in 13 matches for Tottenham. The transfer fee was a record for player transfers between teams in the series.
Korpela says that England has adapted well to his new team both on and off the field.
– A really tough attacker who concretely secured our place in the league with his goals.
– He gave everyone in the team a boost. If the scoring has failed, now we have such a weapon in the attack that when the serve is playing, he puts balls in the net.
“Completely at the wrong end of the standings”
Korpela, who is playing in his second season at Tottenham, says that the team’s season has been difficult. Last season, the team was fifth in the Superliga, and this season the intention was to improve the ranking. However, Tottenham fell into the relegation battle and are ninth in the 12-team league before the final round.
Korpela speaks directly about the failure of the team’s season.
– We are completely at the wrong end of the standings. We saw pretty quickly in the fall that the season won’t be easy, because this is a really hard and even series, Korpela states.
According to him, in many matches the results could have turned in Tottenham’s favor, but the team has not succeeded in doing so. Also the head coach by Rehanne Skinner the dismissals received in the middle of the season were a tough spot for the team. Tottenham had lost nine series matches in a row, when the pilot, who had previously been the second coach, became the pilot Vicky Jepson.
– After that there was a vital Leicester game, which was taken care of. It was a really big, emotional week for the team. It’s good that after that crisis we were able to pull ourselves together, Korpela recalls mid-March.
The Finnish goalkeeper is relatively satisfied with his own season. The attack responsibility is almost equally divided between Korpela and the Jamaican colleague of Rebecca Spencer between. An important goal for Korpela for the season was to stay as healthy as possible, and he almost succeeded.
– In November-December, I had a small tear in my calf, which caused me to miss a few games. When I got it right, I played a lot of games in a row. My own games have gone quite well, but when we didn’t get any wins as a team, I couldn’t be completely satisfied.
Korpela also tells a little about his teammate Eveliina Summanen’s season. Summanen joined Tottenham in the middle of the previous season and immediately claimed his place in the starting line-up. This season, the scrappy midfielder has also been very effective at the attacking end, with 24 matches in the pile five goals and six assists (you switch to another service).
– Eve has had a really good season. I have been able to proudly follow another Finn’s moves. Still a young player, 37-year-old Korpela says of 24-year-old Summas.
– Eve came rushing here last season. At the time, I thought we’ll see how he adapts little by little, but he immediately took on a big role. Eve has precisely the arrogance that England needs.
The champion survives in the final round
The English Super League championship has been consistent throughout the season. At the top of the league with 55 points is Chelsea, who are breathing down their necks from Manchester United, who are two points away.
Chelsea will face league jumbo Reading in the final round, so looking ahead, the championship seems certain. Against United, Liverpool, who played themselves in the upper middle class, is represented by a Finnish defender Emma Koivisto.
– My bet is that Chelsea will win the championship, and I would have thought so a few weeks ago. They have an incredibly hard routine, says Korpela.
In the Super League, Chelsea has won 18 out of 21 matches, and is on a six-game winning streak. Korpela describes that Chelsea may not even control the events of the game, but still manages to win somehow.
– It’s been cool to watch the championship fight. And what we’ve played against those teams… They’re tough teams, but not crazy at all. A draw against Chelsea was close. A disappointing own goal against United decided that game.
A hint of the future from Korpela
Korpela says that he cannot tell his club next season yet. According to him, the situation is still a bit open, but in any case the games will continue “somewhere”.
– Everyone knows that I’ve had a great time here. Something revolutionary would have to happen for me to leave Tottenham. Things are fine here and I’m enjoying myself in London, Korpela flashes.
He states that Tottenham’s players want to show that the soon-to-be-ending league season was only temporary – the team is capable of better.
– The hunger has only grown during this season. I still want to play and enjoy playing as long as I can.
The matches of the final round of the English Super League on May 27: West Ham-Tottenham, Reading-Chelsea, Manchester City-Everton, Liverpool-Manchester United, Brighton-Leicester and Arsenal-Aston Villa.
English Super League, 21/22 rounds played