Ange reassures fans, delivers message on long-term development in North London

Tottenham looked a bit lacking in their conviction as they lost 1-0 to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, however, just as he’s been saying all season long, Ange’s side are still in the early months of what will be a long development process.

Tottenham’s boss has been consistent in his message about what the goal is for Spurs, and the timeline for what that might look like. As it stands, the team is still deeply entrenched in that process.

Spurs fell to Manchester City 1-0 in today’s fourth round of the FA Cup. Throughout parts of the match, the squad simply didn’t look their normal selves, with their usual attacking threat somewhat pacified.

Nevertheless, given the opponent they were playing against, the team wasn’t bad despite the atypical performance. Ange discussed the dangers of extrapolating from this one game too many inferences about the club’s future after the game.

“It’s reasonable to state that [City] has eight or nine years on us. I hope that people’s perceptions of the team we’re attempting to form are somewhat enlightened. Not in a span of six months. The manager remarked, “I don’t think even City did it in six months.”

Postecoglou went on, saying that it “doesn’t mean you don’t get it or shy away from the challenge of it.”

Feeling let down or lacking confidence in your ability to have approached it differently. It’s not an excuse, but the truth is that we’re still very much in the early phases and they’ve already gone a long way toward being the squad they are. That has to be your new standard going forward.

Spurs still have a long way to go, to put it simply. The team’s numerous monthly honors, Son’s goal-scoring exploits this season, and significant wins over teams like Liverpool might easily cause one to lose focus. But Ange is still relatively new to the position, and the team is getting used to the new image that has been introduced to North London.

The remaining seventeen games of the season will present unique challenges as the team faces formidable opponents and strives to win all seventeen of them. Supporters’ only option is to keep being exactly that—supportive. As with every team and management, there may be periods of uncertainty in the future, but that’s far too soon for any of that.

Brentford will now play Tottenham on Wednesday. With Maddison back in the lineup, it should be a thrilling matchup and a chance to maintain momentum heading into the second half of the campaign.