Postecoglou changes tune but glory may not save him

Australian no longer cites consistency as marker of Spurs success as he aims to deliver Europa League high

- David Hytner

It was never meant to be a "panacea", as Ange Postecoglou would say; possibly because the ills at Tottenham are so numerous. Winning a cup would be fabulous, hugely welcome but, according to the manager, it would not - in isolation, at least - offer the prospect of sustained success.

Which was the target when he came to the club in the summer of 2023. Remember Postecoglou's attitude after he exited the Carabao Cup with a weakened team at Fulham in the early weeks of his tenure? "I'm here because I want to create a club that has the opportunity to win things on a yearly basis," he said. "There's a difference. Us winning a Carabao Cup and finishing 10th is not what I think this club is about."

To Postecoglou, it was about putting down firm foundations and building something meaningful, consistency in the Premier League the priority, the truest barometer of progress. Do that and the rest will take care of itself. Postecoglou was still preaching from this page of his gospel before the November international break this season. "I could be going: 'Let's just win a trophy this season and everything will be fine,' he said. "But if we win a trophy, finish 10th and five games into next year I get sacked - not that it's about me - but then the club has to change direction again. So have you really done anything? I don't think so. It's not going to be one simple thing that opens the floodgates."