That was a statement that made Ange Postecoglou mocked for the meaning and finances of the Champions League spot. Tottenham need competition to continue to move up and repay the debt due to building the stadium. But the Australian is right to stress the importance of development.
After a poor performance against Fulham, "Rooster" fans have reason to worry. There is little evidence of the development in the way Tottenham lost at Craven Cottage, giving Aston Villa the initiative in the top 4 race.
Tottenham are only 4 points ahead of last season's same period and Postecoglou clearly recognizes the difficulties in the journey ahead. However, it is important that this strategist has not completed 1/4 of the contract term. And the position of a team, especially in the early stages of a project, does not necessarily have to be a measure of development.
It would be more objective to look at Tottenham's changing playing style. Spurs, who have often defended passively under Antonio Conte, have been more adventurous and proactive under Postecoglou.
Modernizing the approach and making Spurs interesting are important aspects of Postecoglou's work. Daniel Levy mentioned fast attacking style of play in his announcement of the 58-year-olds appointment.
Therefore, Postecoglou deserves to be recognized for the speed of development that the "Rooster" has achieved. Although Spurs have not made many changes to their rankings, their playing style is completely different. A team that used to hold opponents' feet, give in the initiative and wait for counter-attack opportunities is now looking to impose them in every match.
Opta data shows that Tottenham have moved up more than 3m on the pitch this season, the biggest increase of any team in the Premier League. The change in their pressing play was even more obvious.
In other words, Spurs have moved from weak football to playing football that suits the team's principles. Postecoglou, who has only worked for nine months, has reshaped expectations about how quickly a manager can implement his idea.
Compared to Erik ten Hag, when Manchester United was still a mess in style, after nearly 2 years of the Dutch strategist in charge.
With the support of the club's board, Postecoglou has embarked on personnel and style reform. He focuses on youth, with all new recruits aged 26 and under.
Some argue that Postecoglou's continued process of reorganizing and upgrading the squad will cost Tottenham finances. Spurs spent £12 million on signings last summer alone.
After all, in terms of funding, it is unlikely that any player sale deal will reach nearly £100 million like Harry Kane to Bayern Munich last summer. However, Postecoglou has clearly been given assurance.
"I doubt whether our plans to strengthen in the coming season will change significantly compared to the present. We know what we need, we know the areas to strengthen, we know the type of players and the players we need.
That won't change too much regardless of how the season ends. For us, it is about development, not about achieving a goal. Those plans have been well implemented," said the Australian.
Of course, it is important to follow that plan. Spurs are a stronger team than last season but depth is still a problem, as shown by the fact that they depend on Micky van de Ven and many other stars.
