Ange Postecoglou repeated his belief that a top-four finish is not the priority in the wake of Tottenham's 3-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday. "I don't see fourth as the prize," said the Spurs boss. "I don't want to finish fourth if we haven't grown as a team."
It is a line of argument that opens him up to ridicule given the sporting and financial significance of Champions League qualification. Spurs need the competition to fulfil their aims of rivalling the elite. They need it to pay off their stadium debt too.
But he is right to highlight the overarching importance of growth. Spurs pipped Arsenal to a fourth-placed finish in 2022 but look at the fortunes of the two sides since. Look at where last season's third-placed finish has got Manchester United. Look at Newcastle.
None of that is much comfort to Spurs fans in the wake of such a poor performance against Fulham, of course. There was scant evidence of growth in the way they capitulated at Craven Cottage, handing the initiative back to Aston Villa in the top-four race.
They are only four points better off than at the same stage of last season and Postecoglou is under no illusions about the size of the task that still lies ahead. "Everything, mate," was his response when asked recently in which areas he feels his side need to improve.
It is important to remember, though, that he is less than a year into a four-year contract. And that a side's league position, particularly in the early stages of a project such as the one he has undertaken at Spurs, is not necessarily the best measure of growth.
Better is to look at the extent to which he has transformed their style of play. Spurs, often dour and reactive under Antonio Conte, are adventurous and proactive under Postecoglou.
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