Ange Postecoglou's logical statement could present a quandary within Tottenham for Daniel Levy

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has made it clear that he would not be disappointed to finish fifth in the Premier League if his team has shown the growth he expects.

Spurs followed up an excellent performance at Aston Villa with a woeful one at Fulham on Saturday evening, showing all of the hallmarks of a young side in transition and talk after the game once again turned to the top four race and Postecoglou's insistence that he is not focused on a place in the table, only that his team grows and takes on his methods.

«I don't see fourth as the prize. This club has finished fourth before. It's finished second before. You can throw all types of things at it, it's reached the Champions League final, you can throw all sorts of things but this club has achieved things. So fourth is not my end goal,» Postecoglou said.

«I don't want to finish fourth if we haven't grown as a team and developed as a team. If nobody believes me then that's fine. Part of the narrative is to push you in these kind of positions where you think that fourth is some kind of achievement that gives you something for next year. It doesn't give you anything unless...fourth would be great if I feel like we're growing as a team and we're creating something that is going to bring us success next year.

»But fourth is not our goal. It hasn't been. It's not my goal. It certainly isn't my goal but I get it from the outside, particularly in the Premier League, it seems like people push you into that position where you succeed or fail just on an outcome. I just don't think that's how you get success. Success is built on, I think, more tangible stuff. If we finish fifth and if I think we've got a team to challenge next year then I won't be disappointed."

Why Postecoglou