Ange Postecoglou knows the spotlight is on him. After back-to-back defeats before the international break, and with his Tottenham squad hit by injuries and suspensions, people are looking to see how he handles the club's first major setbacks of the season.
Spurs host Aston Villa on Sunday, looking to get back on track following a nightmare week that derailed their strong start.
Two red cards in a 4-1 home loss to Chelsea was followed by a late collapse against Wolves at Molineux, as Tottenham were knocked off top spot in the Premier League.
Spurs also lost injured duo Micky van de Ven and James Maddison until next year, as well as the suspended Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma for what feels like a big game against Unai Emery's in-form Villa.
Is Tottenham's season unravelling? Or will they bounce back from adversity?
A trip to Manchester City next weekend adds to the need for a positive result on Sunday, as Tottenham bid to navigate this tricky period and stay in the mix at the top.
Postecoglou has already had a transformative effect at Spurs, but the Australian believes now, when things are tough, is when he can have the most impact.
Unsurprisingly, he is relishing the challenge.
"If you look at our start, we've had 12 games, we've lost two, we're two points off the top… [it's a] pretty good start to the season," said Postecoglou.
"Or you can say we've lost the last two, we're down on numbers, the season is unravelling, everything is a disaster. The reality is it's somewhere in between.
"We have had a decent start, which has been great, because there has been a major transformation in both the way we're playing and training, staff-wise, new players… all those types of things and you do not know how quickly they will fit into play. I have been really pleased with the way the guys have embraced that.
"But the challenges never end and it all came in one game, in fact, one 20-minute spell. We started so well against Chelsea and you think, 'We're flying'. But football always does that.
"You do not want these periods to come, but when they do, I think that is when I can have the most impact.
"All eyes now are on me. What do I do? What decisions to I make? How do I talk? How do I behave? Internally and externally, everyone is looking.
Now that everyone is looking, they will see what I am all about and what I want
"As much as you do not want to be in these situations, bizarrely, they are the times I really enjoy. I know what strong beliefs I have in the way I want to do things and now that everyone is looking, they will see what I am all about and what I want.
"If we can navigate this period, as I have done with my other clubs, [it] becomes a real foundation for what we want to become."
Tottenham have been handed a boost, with left-back Destiny Udogie passed fit to face Villa after he pulled out of the Italy squad due to a hamstring strain.
But a run of eight games in 35 days until the end of the year is set to test their stretched squad to its limit.
With Richarlison out, following surgery on a groin injury, Brennan Johnson could be in line for an extended run in the team.
The £47.5million summer signing scored against Wolves and Spurs will hope he can form a good partnership with Heung-min Son in the absence of Maddison.
Sunday seems certain to be a tough test against a free-scoring Villa side who can leapfrog Tottenham in the table and cannot be ignored in the race for the top four.
Villa are flying under former Arsenal manager Emery, with England striker Ollie Watkins likely to pose a real threat to a makeshift back-four missing Van de Ven and Romero.
