Tottenham rebuild 'not where it needs to be', warns Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham's off-field rebuild is still "not where it needs to be" and believes the club remains some way behind Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in establishing a successful backroom staff and environment.

Spurs have made encouraging progress on the pitch since Postecoglou's appointment and they can move into the top four with a home win over Brentford tonight.

Postecoglou joined Spurs with a mandate to improve results and style of play, as well as oversee a cultural re-set, and the Australian says he would be "a fool" to think he could transform the club in just six months.

"There's a good foundation but do I think we're where we want to be off the field? No. Not from a football perspective anyway," said the head coach. "I just think it's the nature of a rebuild in my experience. They don't happen in six months — the way you work, the staffing, the environment.

"We've made inroads but I definitely don't think it's ingrained or established in here yet. It can't be after six months and I'd be a fool if I thought it was. You look at Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, and it didn't happen for them in the first six months, so there's no waving of a wand here.

"I know that it [our environment] is not where it needs to be yet but we do have some things definitely there. [In terms of] facilities [and] resources, we're well-placed. But when you've got all those things, you've got to take advantage of it. You've got to use it well because the measure is not how well-placed you are, it's how you execute.

"I still think with all those things we're still in the building phase. We're not in the phase of catapulting ourselves to where we want to be."

Since the resignation of managing director Fabio Paratici in April last year, Spurs have restructured behind the scenes, with Johan Lange named as technical director in October, reporting to new head of football operations, Scott Munn. Postecoglou believes Spurs still need further appointments and have work to do to change the mentality throughout the club.

"[It's about] both behaviours and appointments," he said. "It comes down to people — they cover both things. I've been here six months, Scott Munn has been here less, Johan's been here two months.

"So when you're looking at the football side of things, all of us are just getting started. It's key obviously that us three are aligned in what we want to do from a football perspective.

"But until that's done — and that can only happen over time — that's when you feel a bit more secure about saying we can still go to the next level."

Liverpool are likely facing a period of transition when manager Jurgen Klopp steps aside after nine years in the summer, while City manager Pep Guardiola is out of contract next year — potentially leading to an opportunity for Spurs to capitalise on the disruption.

But Postecoglou added: "If that's your only hope, waiting for the top ones to slip [up], I just don't think you get there. I'd rather them be at their best and we match them, get up to their level and exceed it. Rather than hope they slip up. I just don't think that's a strategy. It is more of a wish."