In recent weeks, Ange Postecoglou has been unwilling to engage with the idea that Tottenham Hotspur are simply in a battle for Champions League places. Instead, he has dreamed a little bigger. “I don’t see the sense in trying to aim for something other than No 1,” he said earlier this month.
Spurs fans, no doubt, will understand that argument. But there is a problem here, which is that the thought of Spurs being in the title race is no longer based on reality. It may not be a truth that Postecoglou wishes to confront, but it is the truth nonetheless that his players are indeed locked in a tussle for the Champions League places, rather than anything more.
On that front, with Aston Villa and Manchester United watching closely, this was a deeply damaging night. Spurs were not just beaten by Fulham, but thumped. Three goals in less than 20 minutes brought a much-deserved victory for Marco Silva’s aggressive and imaginative side, who were led by the excellent Rodrigo Muniz.
Spurs lost the physical and tactical battle, and failed to score in a league game for the first time this season.
In the aftermath, Postecoglou did not back down from his assertions that he is not personally concerned by the scrap for Champions League qualification. “I don’t see fourth as the prize,” he said. “Fourth is not my end goal. I don’t want to finish fourth if we haven’t grown as a team. If nobody believes me, that’s fine.
“Fourth would be great if I feel like we are creating something that is going to bring us success next year. But fourth is not our goal. It is not my goal. If we finish fifth and if I think we’ve got a team to challenge next year then I won’t be disappointed.”
The Spurs supporters, executives and players might not necessarily agree, as there is a reason why the Champions League is regarded as the promised land. Naturally, the money it brings in would help to accelerate Postecoglou’s squad-building efforts.
