Can Postecoglou continue his second-season success at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou shot himself in the foot when he reflected on his track record of winning trophies in his second season at previous clubs.

His statement sent a wave of optimism across the club, but it also created a level of pressure that the Australian tactician may find hard to navigate.

At the start of last season, not many people expected Tottenham to break new ground after losing record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.

However, Postecoglou exceeded expectations and reignited belief within the fan base by winning eight of his first ten Premier League games.

Tottenham went on to finish fifth, missing out on a Champions League spot by two points.

Despite the disappointment, it still felt like a promising step in the right direction under a new manager with an exciting brand of football to match.

The wheels began to come off towards the end of last season, with Spurs producing inconsistent performances and results.

They continued on the same path this term, leaving people to question whether Postecoglou’s debut season was only a fluke.

He hasn’t done himself any favours by discussing his history of second-year success, especially after a derby defeat against Arsenal, and his comments may have inadvertently raised the stakes.

In fairness, the statistics back up his claim. During his second season as head coach of the Australian national team, he led the Socceroos to the Asian Cup title.

His domestic record also supports the claim. In his previous three club roles – aside from a one-year stint at Melbourne Victory – Postecoglou has delivered league titles in his second season.

The 58-year-old has a clear track record of improving teams, but replicating his league triumph in England is unrealistic, especially with the current state of the club.

Can he replicate his second-season success at Spurs?

Tottenham have gone 16 years without a trophy, so Postecoglou could easily go down as a club legend if he ends that drought this season.

However, his comment has placed him under the spotlight, which isn’t ideal for a manager looking to break a voodoo that has resisted even the most successful figures in European football.

Cup competitions are a more realistic path to silverware for Spurs than the Premier League.

They’re already fancied as one of the favourites to win the Europa League, so there’s room for cautious optimism that they can make a deep run, given their strong start to the continental campaign.

Aside from Manchester United, only a few teams pose a major threat to Spurs’ European dream, so they may have a real shot if they remain consistent.

The FA and League Cups are also possible avenues for Tottenham to claim their first piece of silverware since 2008, but their inconsistency and tactical inferiority could scupper their hopes.

Tottenham’s four Premier League defeat this season have come against tactically organised teams.

Their first three opponents in the Europa League barely move the needle, so we’ll have to wait until they face a decent side before offering a verdict on their continental ambitions.

The League Cup might be their best bet, but getting past Manchester City will be a tall order, considering they’ve failed to beat the eight-time champions in each of their last two meetings in cup competitions.

Postecoglou has rubbished claims that his comments have piled the pressure on him to lead Spurs to glory this season.

However, he has set a benchmark that could be difficult to hit given Tottenham’s history. His confidence is commendable, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that he may have set himself up for failure.