Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham 'lack maturity and leadership' but urges patience in rebuild

Ange Postecoglou has admitted that Tottenham lack "maturity and leadership" but says he would rather be patient with his young squad than buy more experience.

Spurs lost for the fourth time in eight Premier League games against Crystal Palace last weekend and host Manchester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

Postecoglou says Pep Guardiola's City are the only example of a club being transformed by a coach in less than two years, as he called for time to develop Spurs.

"Show me where things can turn around in 15 months or in two years, any club, apart from maybe City where it took Pep a year, which is like an eternity to be fair for Pep. It doesn't exist," Postecoglou said.

"There is a formula there. If you want to look at recent history, there's Liverpool, there's Arsenal.

"We're aligned in what we're trying to achieve here and we know it's not going to be easy. That does not mean, though, that this is going to take five years. I'm not saying that, but you can't fast-track experience. You can't fast-track maturity. All these things need time and you've just got to stay true."

Postecoglou continued: "We know where we are at. We're struggling in difficult moments because we lack some maturity and leadership.

"Now, there's two ways of dealing with that. You can either go and buy it, acquire it, or you can wait for it to develop within your own group.

"We've gone down this way because I think that's the better way, for me. But with that process, it takes time and experience. You've got to go through tough times.

"It's not nice and it's not pleasant and no one enjoys it, I certainly don't, but it's necessary. How do people react after a loss? How do people react if we haven't had the right reaction? Then you get growth.

"I'm so optimistic about this playing group. I think there's such a high ceiling with this group of players. The more we get exposed to difficult times, the more I believe that ceiling gets higher."

Spurs have not won a trophy since the 2008 League Cup but Postecoglou believes performances in the Premier League offer a "better indicator" of their progress than potentially winning a cup.

He insisted that progressing over a 38-game season and winning a trophy were not mutually exclusive aims but says lifting a trophy will not be a "panacea" for Spurs.

"In my mind they go hand in hand but I still think progress in the league is a better indicator [than winning a cup] because then you know you’re putting yourself in a position to win every week and compete in every competition," the Australian said.

"That’s the only thing you can strive for. You can’t guarantee success. No one can. But you can put yourself in a position. If you can put yourself in a position in the league on a consistent basis, I think by extension you should be strong in the knockout comps.

"That’s still where I think our most meaningful progress lies. Winning a comp. Is it a positive? Absolutely. Our supporters will love it. It’s great for the club. Yes you get that winning feeling too. But it’s not a panacea for everything, obviously."

To support his point, Postecoglou cited the example of Erik ten Hag, who was sacked by Manchester United on Monday despite winning two trophies in as many seasons.

"We’ve got a manager [in Ten Hag] who’s won two in the last two years who’s just got the sack," Postecoglou added. "Everyone tells me, just win a trophy and you’ll be fine. I don’t think so.

"The measures these days are constantly shifting. There’s always something that people perceive to be better. What’s more important for me is that we’re getting to get to a space where we’re consistently challenging for all honours.

"If we’re there in that space, where big clubs are, and where we should be, the rest will take care of itself."

Guardiola has suggested that he could use academy players on Wednesday and says he will not take a risk with any of his senior stars if they are feeling the strain of the schedule.

"He’s not playing *his* kids," joked Postecoglou. "No disrespect to Pep’s kids.

"These are good players. They’re at City. They have a pretty good programme. Pedro [Porro] was part of that. If you’re part of the City infrastructure you’re a good player. We’re expecting a tough game.

“But irrespective of who they put out, we want to win. We want stay in this competition and put in a strong performance."