Ange Postecoglou bristled at the notion that anyone might be losing faith in his Tottenham revolution. Or that he could do with a statement win against big opponents like Arsenal to restore it.
‘If people have lost faith in what we’re doing, I cannot let that be my guide,’ said Postecoglou. ‘My guide is what I see on a daily basis, the way we play our football, the way the team is growing.
‘I’m as optimistic and as bullish as I’ve ever been. There’s nothing I’ve seen to make me waver in my belief about what we’re doing.’
The new season has started for Spurs with one thumping home win, a draw they ought to have won and a narrow defeat at Newcastle.
Performances have been bright enough, although this small sample of fresh results is disturbingly like an extension to the end of last season, when they beat the poorest teams while struggling to take anything at all from stronger opponents.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is in need of a big victory but he won't admit it
A win against rivals Arsenal would provide Postecoglou's side with a significant morale boost
In 14 games since an impressive 4-0 win at Aston Villa in March, they have won only five. Last season against each of the Premier League’s bottom four and this season against Everton, who have started like a drain.
On Sunday Arsenal travel across north London. When they last made the trip in April, Mikel Arteta’s side were 3-0 up by half-time, dominating on the counter-attack and dangerous at set-pieces, then resisted a fightback to take three points. Having failed to derail Arteta’s tilt at the title, it left some Spurs fans to celebrate another defeat against Manchester City 16 days later on the grounds that at least the arch enemy would not lift the trophy.
This left Postecoglou feeling distinctly uncomfortable at the time. And victory in this derby might move the rivalry back to a more conventional footing and soothe some of those wounds. It might jolt this season into life but the Spurs boss is demanding more.
‘Is it important to win big games? Absolutely, yes, I want to win big games,’ said Postecoglou. ‘But we won big games early last season. It doesn’t mean it’s going to get you to where you want to get to. There’s got to be a consistency in approach.
‘Teams that win things win all the time. They don’t pick and choose. You can’t pick and choose. Small teams do because that’s where the only true victory lies because they think they can’t win the competition but can get a couple of big scalps.
‘I was with Australia for a long time and that was the mentality. Let’s knock off a big gun because we can’t win a World Cup. I don’t subscribe to that. Winners go, “Right, who’s in front of us? Let’s win”. That’s the way I am and the way I think.
‘I don’t think one win is bigger or more significant than any other. I would hate to think there are players in the dressing room who want to win this game more than any others or prepare differently or try harder in this game than any other.
Postecoglou stressed that he is targeting victories regardless of the opposition
‘That is not the way forward. We understand the significance of it because if we do win, our supporters will be over the moon. I understand that. If we don’t win, they are going to be devastated.’
Lose it and four points from four games will invite pressure ahead of a tricky Carabao Cup tie at Coventry.
The flying start to last season, when Spurs topped the Premier League after 10 games, would look more like the exception and 10 months of hit-and-miss results since the norm.
Arsenal finished 23 points ahead of Spurs last season. ‘A fair reflection,’ according to Postecoglou. ‘A significant gap we need to bridge. That won’t happen quickly but we need to chip away.
‘We’re a year into it. If we’re four or five years into it and still (23) points behind, then I wouldn’t be here talking about it.’
Which is the reason he won’t compromise his style just because Arsenal are the visitors. The difference between the neighbours is more than the three points up for grabs on Sunday.
‘I guess there can be, but there won’t be,’ replied the Australian when asked if there was any temptation to be more circumspect.
Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven are back after injuries but Yves Bissouma is a doubt and Richarlison is out. Arteta is without midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Despite the absence of Martin Odegaard (L) and Declan Rice (R), Postecoglou believes Arsenal will still pose a threat
‘That’s a hell of a trap to fall into if you think they’re reliant on two players,’ said Postecoglou. ‘They have the quality in their squad. The key for us is the focus on our performance.
‘When we’ve played well — and we certainly have played well in the first three games — and if we’re a little more clearheaded in both boxes, we’re a match for any team.
‘That’s what we’ve got to think about. If we go in there thinking they’re somehow weakened, we’re going to get punished.’