Ange Postecoglou has hit out at Tottenham’s ambition and said their actions in the transfer market show they are “not a big club”.
In a stinging attack on Spurs following the sacking of Thomas Frank, Postecoglou says they are not run like “one of the big boys”.
Postecoglou says the way Spurs act in the transfer market is “almost the antithesis” of the club’s motto of “To Dare is To Do”.
He also claims a “Spursy” culture exists at the club in terms of a lack of belief that they can win things.
Postecoglou says Frank “is not the only issue” and described Spurs as a “curious club” as he revealed his transfer frustrations during his time in north London.
Reacting to Frank’s exit on the Stick to Football podcast, Postecoglou said: “It is curious in terms of understanding what are they trying to build. They have an unbelievable stadium and training facilities, but when you look at their expenditure and wages structure, they are not a big club.
“I saw that because when we tried to sign players, we were not in the market for those players. There are certain players… at the end of my first year when we finished fifth, we had to sign Premier League ready players to go from fifth to challenging.
“But we didn’t qualify for the Champions League so we ended up signing Dominic Solanke, who I really liked, and three teenagers. I was looking at Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi… because that is what other clubs would do in that moment. Three teenagers aren’t going to get you there.
“When you walk into Tottenham, you see ‘To Dare Is To Do’ everywhere. But their actions are almost the antithesis of that. To actually win, you have got to take some risks at some point.
“I felt that Tottenham, as a club, say they’re one of the big boys. And the reality is I don’t think they are in terms of my experience. When Arsenal need players, they will spend £100million on Declan Rice. I don’t see Tottenham doing that. When was the last time Tottenham signed someone and you went, ‘Wow’?”
Postecoglou says a “Spursy” culture exists at Tottenham and that he felt a lack of belief ahead of the Europa League last season.
“Spursy. That is what it was all about,” he said. “Yeah, 100 per cent there is [a lack of belief they would go on and win]. And that was the thing I was trying to break.
“My whole statement about winning things in the second year, I was doing that for the club. Because no one inside the club would dare say that, because they had been close a few times.”
On Frank’s sacking, Postecoglou said: “It’s tough. You know he can’t be the only issue at the club. It’s a curious club, Tottenham. It’s made a major pivot at the end of last year. Not just with me, but with Daniel leaving as well. And you have created this environment of uncertainty. For what reason?
“Thomas is walking in… what’s his objective? What’s the club’s objective? At the start of the year they said they wanted to compete on all front, well the club hasn’t competed on all fronts for a very long time.
“Also the most influential person at the club for the last 20 years is also going, so if you’re going to do such a major pivot, you’ve got to understand that there is going to be some instability there. Did Thomas know he was walking into that? It’s a curious club.
“You look at the list [of managers] and there isn’t really a common thread of what they’re trying to do. Tottenham’s DNA is they do like their team to play a certain way.
“With Mauricio [Pochettino] they were going down that path. At the same time, people have been too dismissive of Harry Kane’s influence in that period. Even him leaving, you can’t plug that hole.
“They have gone from Mauricio… then they wanted winners, went for Jose, got to a cup final and sacked him. Then it was Antonio. Then I come in and they want the football. Even though my DNA is that I win as well. Then we go down that path.”
