Ange Postecoglou has doubled down on his Tottenham Hotspur trophy claim as the pressure begins to build on the Australian coach.
Postecoglou failed to win a third consecutive north London derby clash over the weekend, with Spurs having won just three of their previous 11 matches stretching back to last season.
But speaking after his side’s latest loss against rivals Arsenal, the former Celtic manager pointed to his trophy record as a reason why Spurs fans should continue to back him.
He told Sky Sports: “I’ll correct myself – I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed.”
It sparked criticism from some, with claims Postecoglou was being arrogant in his self-appraisal.
But that doesn’t appear to have impacted Postecoglou, who has since doubled down on his claims.
Commenting ahead of Tottenham’s League Cup clash with Coventry City, the 59-year-old said: “What did I do? Did I unfurl banners and get a band out?
“Am I supposed to say that’s not really relevant or that doesn’t really count or that’s not really important? Because it is to me. That’s what I’ve got to rely on, that in my 26 years of managing, I’ve had success and most of that has come in the second year.
“I’m willing to be measured against that. It means that I’m fair game. I’m happy to be judged against that standard because that’s my standard.
“It doesn’t put extra pressure on me because I love the fact that I’ve done that. It’s what I want to do here. It’s just me, I’m going to be me and I’m not going to change.”
It’s now 16 years since Tottenham last won a trophy, having lifted the League Cup at Wembley back in 2008.
Postecoglou though wants to change that this season: “I came here to try to win things for the club. That should be our measure and if we fall short we need to be better and improve.
“Even when we started well last year I said ‘Look mate, if people want to dream about us winning things, let them go for it’. It’s just the way I’m wired.
“If I said ‘this is going to take three or four years’, then yeah it would relieve pressure. But I don’t want to wait three or four years. This year’s an opportunity.”
Spurs face Championship Coventry in their third-round League Cup tie on Wednesday at 8pm.