Cathinka Tandberg is entering her second season at Tottenham with growing confidence and heightened ambition, a year after announcing herself to the Women's Super League with a spectacular 40-yard lob on her debut against Everton.
The Norwegian forward joined Spurs from Hammarby last summer and wasted no time making an impression, chipping goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan from long range just ten days after her move was completed. The strike proved a fitting symbol of the club's ambitions under head coach Martin Ho, whose project has been backed by significant financial investment.
Speaking to Standard Sport from Tottenham's pre-season training camp in Spain, Tandberg reflected on how quickly her first year in north London has passed. "It is a bit wild to think I have already been here a year," she said. "I came in with attitude. I wanted to show myself. It was my first season and I'm just ready to show more."
Tandberg finished her debut campaign with six league goals as Tottenham fell 13 points short of a European qualification spot. Now she is aiming higher, buoyed by a summer of high-profile signings that have strengthened the squad considerably. Alice Sombath joined from OL Lyonnes in a club-record transfer, while Victoria Pelova, Kirsty Hanson and Shekeira Martinez arrived from WSL rivals Arsenal, Aston Villa and West Ham respectively.
As a lifelong Tottenham supporter, Tandberg takes pride in seeing top talent choose the club. "It is a dream playing here," she said. "And that is the reason why players are coming to this club. They know what we can achieve and what Martin brings to a team. We always want to improve, we always want to get better. We've brought in some quality players and that is a sign we are aiming high, and we have high expectations of ourselves."
The forward is set to take on greater responsibility this season following the departure of club captain Beth England to Crystal Palace. Tandberg will inherit not only England's goalscoring burden but also her old No9 shirt, a role she intends to make her own rather than simply fill.
"I will wear the No9 shirt with pride, but I want to make it mine," she said. "I want to make it a number people remember with my name on it. Every time I step on the pitch, every time I wear that badge, I will do everything for this club."
Ho has praised Tandberg's composed temperament and infectious personality, qualities that suggest she is well equipped to handle the added pressure. The striker herself remains guarded about specific personal targets for the season, insisting they are private, though she is clear she wants her performances to draw attention — much as her wonder goal at Goodison Park did last year. She has even set her sights on adding a bicycle kick to her repertoire this season, explaining simply: "I like doing crazy things because it makes people talk about you, and I think that's cool."
That flair for the dramatic draws comparisons to fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland, who helped his country reach its best-ever World Cup finish this summer. Tandberg, currently behind Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen in the pecking order for the national team, is determined to force her way into contention ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
"I will use this year as a year to show I am good enough, and I am going to be in that squad," she said. "I want to fight to be in the team, and I want to be a player that plays in those tournaments."
She also embraced the idea of standing out in her own way alongside Haaland's growing global profile: "It is very good to have someone a bit different. I also want to be different, so I will probably find something weird to do - but I will do it in my own way."
For Tandberg, international recognition is closely tied to Tottenham's success this season, with Champions League qualification the clear target. "The players that we have now, that is 100 per cent achievable," she said. "If we focus on ourselves, we will win a lot of games. That is everyone's dream."
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.