Ange Postecoglou says he is running out of patience to answer repeated questions about his approach after further scrutiny of his tactics in Tottenham's 6-3 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Postecoglou's depleted side were characteristically entertaining in an open, end-to-end game against the league leaders, who led 5-1 in the second half but were pegged back to 5-3 before Luiz Diaz's second goal of the match completed the scoring.
Asked afterwards about his commitment to attacking football and whether it would benefit Spurs in the long run, a visibly frustrated Postecoglou replied: "I think I have been really patient the last 18 months sitting up here answering the same questions over and over again.
"If people want me to change my approach, it’s not going to change. We are doing it for a reason, we are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful.
"If people don’t understand the circumstances we are in at the moment, the challenges we have from a squad perspective which are as obvious as you want to make them.
"I get the idea that people think that I should just flip a switch and change and somehow that will miraculously make us a better team. It is what it is. I’m just going to continue, stay focused on trying to build this team to be the team we want. In the interim we are going to accept there are going to be challenges along the way."
Supporters sang Postecoglou's name in the second half, even as Liverpool raced into a four-goal lead, and the head coach added: "Who knows, maybe some of them understand the situation we're in right now. It seems many [people] don't.
"In the context of what we're trying to do, where we're at, I hope they see what we're trying to build here because I really believe it's going to be something that gives the club and fans what they want."
Spurs were again missing eight first-team players through injury, suspension or illness, while unusued substitute Destiny Udogie was not fit enough to start.
"It was a difficult day for us and a painful result," Postecoglou added.
We've had shorter turnarounds than just about every opponent we've played so far, shorter rest days than every team we've played
"Credit to Liverpool, they are a very good side and are in a great moment. They are very settled, (in) great form, great belief. It was just a bridge too far for us today. You could tell we were lacking a little bit of energy and the ability to really compete with them at the same level.
"Pretty much after the [Manchester] City game [on November 30] we had a look at it and we knew this would be our toughest period for sure.
"We've had shorter turnarounds than just about every opponent we've played so far, shorter rest days than every team we've played whether it's here or in Europe. And I haven't been able to rotate the team, rest players or rotate players.
"I have massive admiration for the efforts these players are putting in for this club at the moment. We know what a difficult situation it is and that's not going to change in the short-term. We've just got to push on."
Headers from Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister put the visitors in control but James Maddison halved the deficit with a clever finish.
Dominik Szoboszlai made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time and Mohamed Salah's double put the visitors in complete control by the hour mark.
Goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke made it 5-3 and set up a big finish, but Diaz scored again to extend Liverpool's lead at the top of the table.
The result left Spurs 10th in the table but Postecoglou was puzzled by the suggestion that he may be 'under pressure'.
"I'm not sure what you mean by pressure," he said. "I'm not happy about where we are in the table. I'm not sure about pressure in what sense?
"I think I am getting judged on [our position]. People aren't throwing platitudes at me so that's fair enough.
"Again from my perspective, all I can do is navigate us through a difficult period and try and make sure we do get to a position where hopefully we have a healthier squad and some key players back where we're in a position where we can improve our position in the table.
"If you're saying that 10th means I'm not doing a good job and I maybe somehow should be uncomfortable, well that's for others to judge."
