Ange Postecoglou insists Tottenham’s problems will not be solved by Champions League qualification… as the Spurs boss questions whether it has helped Newcastle this year

Ange Postecoglou admits qualification for the Champions League and a healthy balance sheet will not solve all Tottenham’s problems.

‘We’re not banks, we’re football clubs,’ said Postecoglou, in a week when Spurs recorded an 87million loss.

‘We’re not financial institutions. I don’t get measured by the balance sheet at the end of the year.

‘Champions League, great. Money, great. Does that mean we’re going to finish third next year? No. In fact it is probably going to be more challenging.

‘My role is not to worry about the financial pressure of making Champions League, it is to create a squad that hopefully can compete in the Champions League and keep improving in the Premier League and have success in the cup competitions.

Daniel Levy’s club posted an £87 million loss this week but are eyeing Champions League riches 

Tottenham are currently fifth in the Premier League two points behind Aston Villa 

‘That’s where I differentiate. Of course, if you’re not going to win the league, get into the Champions League because of the financial rewards but that’s not the measure.

‘How much money you make is not why you get into the Champions League, it is what you do with that money. Do you build on it? Do you build a squad or do you say because we’re in the Champions League next year, we’ll be great?

‘But the money that comes with it gives you a chance to build more aggressively or do it more quickly.’

Manchester United’s crushing defeat to Chelsea on Thursday looks to have finally ended their top four hopes, leaving it a straight shootout between Aston Villa and Spurs for a Champions League place. 

Postecoglou’s side are currently two points behind Villa, who occupy fourth, although they do have a game in hand, and the possibility that fifth place could also bring Champions League football through the UEFA coefficient. 

But while the Australian’s obviously aware what the financial awards mean by sitting at Europe’s top table, he believes you can make progress without it. 

‘You can do it with, you can do it without. It comes down to good decision-making, good coaching, good players, good administration,’ he continued. 

‘It is when you fall into the trap of thinking money is the answer that you don’t get the outcome. So, I could have sat here this year and said “we don’t have Champions League money so how can we progress?” I never said that. I said we’ve got to make progress. We’ve got to be better than we were last year.’ 

Postecoglou says the losses and Champions League place will not affect transfer plans 

The Australian cited Newcastle as an example of Champions League not helping progress 

When asked if there wasn’t a pressure given the figures, the Tottenham boss admits there is, but questioned if it always helps the team – using Eddie Howe’s experiences this season as an example. 

Adding: ‘It doesn’t guarantee everything. I keep saying it, I don’t know why people don’t understand. So if I ask you, Newcastle made the Champions League last year, did it help them this year?’ 

Tottenham’s finish will have a direct impact on what their plans will be over the summer as they look to strengthen the squad, but Postecoglou insists the club’s £87m loss won’t have an impact on those plans. 

He said: ‘See now you’re getting into the detail. You’re dragging me down. My discussions around those kinds of issues are not the minutiae of a balance sheet. It is about us planning to build a side that can potentially be successful. 

‘So, that’s what we’re doing and nothing that is going to come out in the balance sheet is going to disrupt those plans because those plans are done in alliance with the people who make the balance sheets. 

‘But our planning is well underway in what we need to do. But there’s no doubt that from our perspective, we are not one of the clubs who are going to be as restricted as others.’