Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been a dramatic rollercoaster, swinging wildly between exhilarating victories and disheartening defeats. Thumping wins against Manchester United and Aston Villa have been jarringly juxtaposed with losses to Crystal Palace and Ipswich, handing both their first Premier League wins of the season. This inconsistency, a hallmark of Spurs’ recent history, has left fans and pundits questioning the team’s mentality. However, manager Ange Postecoglou remains unconcerned.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Postecoglou dismissed concerns about his squad’s mental fortitude. “I don’t worry about the mentality of the squad or the other areas that people tend to focus on,” he stated, emphasizing instead a focus on growth and learning from both triumphs and setbacks. “What I’m looking at is how we grow from our experiences. And those experiences – as painful as they were and are – I still think we’ll get growth out of them.” This focus on long-term development is a recurring theme in his discussions.
Postecoglou’s tenure has marked a significant shift since his arrival. While November saw Tottenham top of the Premier League after his first 10 games, a devastating loss to Chelsea, coupled with injuries and red cards, marked a turning point. The spring saw a sharp decline, dashing hopes of Champions League qualification, leaving Spurs currently in 10th place. Yet, Postecoglou remains bullish.
He highlights the significant progress made considering the team’s starting point: finishing eighth the previous season. “From where we started, I think the first 50 games, if you think of it as a totality, I think we’ve made really, really good progress considering our starting point, which was finishing eighth in the league,” he explained. He acknowledges the long road ahead, stating, “I think we have shown we’ve made progress and it’s also shown we’ve still got a long way to go.”
The context is crucial. Postecoglou inherited a team reeling from Antonio Conte’s controversial departure, marked by criticism of the club’s ownership and direction. The persistent “Spursy” label – the tendency towards inconsistency and underperformance – remains a challenge. Postecoglou aims to change this perception, aiming for sustained success beyond the highs and lows that have defined the club in recent years. However, the recent 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich served as a stark reminder of the inconsistency that still needs to be addressed.
The inconsistency isn’t easily explained, Postecoglou admits, citing the club’s current state of development. “Some of it is where we are at as a club at the moment,” he said. “We’re still learning to deal with certain things. It’s just part of our growth. The results aside – because the results can disguise things – the reality is that our performances have been inconsistent which is the thing we need to address. We’ve been really good this year when we have been good. And we’ve been really poor when we haven’t. We need to make sure we always get a consistent level.”
This weekend’s match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium provides a significant test. Tottenham has already defeated City in the Carabao Cup this season, and a victory would be a powerful statement. Guardiola’s recent contract extension adds another layer to the narrative, signaling his long-term commitment to the club. While Postecoglou isn’t focused on such a long-term vision yet, he’s determined to establish a period of sustained success at Tottenham, a target that will require time, patience, and consistent improvement. His vision is clear: not just fleeting peaks, but a sustained period of dominance.
