Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has doubled down on his belief that he will end the club’s 16-year trophy drought this season.
The Australian caused a stir after Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal when responding to a question about remarks he made in pre-season when he said that ‘usually in my second season I win things’.
After the north London derby, Postecoglou, whose side visit Coventry in the Carabao Cup tonight, said: ‘I’ll correct myself — I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed. I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.’
His comments have created a backlash given Spurs’ underwhelming start to the season, which has seen them pick up just four points from their opening four games.
But on Tuesday, asked if it would mean he had failed if he did not deliver on his pledge to win a trophy this season, Postecoglou stuck by his pre-season comments and said: ‘Yes. I failed last year in my head because that’s how I’m geared.
‘I think I’ve made it pretty clear what my expectations are. But that doesn’t mean that I stop. That just fuels the fire of, “why didn’t I do it?”
‘That gets me going for this year and this year it’s about progress. That’s been my whole career, that’s my foundation. That’s why I’m sitting here. There’s no other way I could have got here.
‘No chance in any universe I could have got here from Australia and been sitting here, answering questions at one of the biggest clubs in the world and the best competition in the world (the Premier League), if I didn’t have some sort of self-belief based on something of substance.
‘Have I downplayed anything since I’ve been here? So I’m willing to be measured against that, that means I’m fair game. I’ve never said not to (judge me on winning trophies).
‘Now, how you come to your summary at the end, that’s as much on you as it is me. You can make your assessment on just one thing or many things.
‘But I’m happy to be judged against that standard because that’s my standard. That’s what I’ve done in the past and I don’t want to dilute that because then I miss the opportunity to continue on the road that I’ve been on. I have no problems with people using that as a yardstick.’
The Australian guided Celtic to two league titles, including winning the Treble at the club
On his original comments, Postecoglou added: ‘It’s amazing, isn’t it? I just stated a fact. Am I supposed to just lie or say it never happened?
‘It’s just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer something that is true.
‘Like if I don’t win it in the second year this year and I come out next year and say, “well, I always win it”, well, no, actually it’s not true, but I’ve just said something that’s true, and it seems like it’s upset a lot of people for some reason.’
Postecoglou won league titles in Australia with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar and the Japanese title with Yokohama F Marinos — all in his second season or second full season in charge.
Postecoglou also won the Asian Cup two years after becoming Australia boss — and the Scottish Premiership title in both seasons managing Celtic.