Ange Postecoglou is adamant he is not at Tottenham to do anything other than win.
The new Spurs manager spoke at length for the first time since leaving Celtic in June as he embarks on a new challenge in the Premier League. He has made a pro-active start in refreshing a squad stuck in the doldrums last season, signing James Maddison from Leicester for £40million after signing Empoli keeper Vicario for £17m.
Having taken the long way to the top, Postecoglou takes on his first assignment in one of Europe’s top five leagues at the age of 57. But he insists that only means something if he can deliver success to the North London club.
Tottenham begin the league season away at Brentford on August 13 before hosting Manchester United the following week. And Postecoglou admits he simply cannot wait to get started.
"I’m looking forward to all of it,” he told Spurs' official channel. There is not one bit of it I’m not looking forward to. I understand that as I'm walking out there, there is great expectation here, great responsibility, that’s not lost on me.
"It’s not just about me going out there and saying, ‘this is wonderful, what a great experience’, I’ve taken the responsibility on of a massive football club, with great history and with a supporter base that’s craving football and more great moments to add to the historical base we’ve already got.
"I understand that. I love that too. That’s exactly where I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I want to be in that position of having that responsibility, understanding that and embracing that. I’m looking forward to that challenge.
"It’s a great moment, a proud moment not just for myself but for my family and friends and people who have been on that journey, because they’ve all lived those experiences with me. My main thoughts will be on the responsibility I bear and the excitement that I have within me that I can fulfil those dreams and aspirations of every Tottenham supporter."
Having thrilled Celtic fans with an often-intoxicating brand of football built upon impressively consistent and shrewd recruitment, Postecoglou is out to recreate that formula south of the border. He remained steadfast in sticking to his attacking principles with the Parkhead side, and Tottenham fans can expect more of the same when the new campaign gets under way.
Most importantly, however, the Spurs manager stressed that his primary focus is to win. Tottenham have not lifted a trophy since 2008, and it is now over to Postecoglou to succeed where the likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho have failed.
"Obviously I'm excited about the challenge ahead,” he said. “It's an enormous football club, an exciting league and all of the things you strive for in your professional career. It's great to finally be here, getting ready to work and I'm really excited about what's ahead," he said.
"I love to win mate, that’s the main thing, and I’ve done that wherever I’ve been. The football is designed to bring success. Alongside that it’s really important to me that there is an element of what I think most fans and players want to be associated with, and that’s football that’s exciting, that people talk about, not just the end result but also the manner in which you played your football.
"That’s really important to me, firstly because I think it’s a way to be successful and also secondly, because it allows people to grab on to those things that are most special about our game, those memorable moments.
"People want to see their team scoring goals, being exciting, not conceding goals, being aggressive in their approach, all these kinds of things that everyone seeks in their own football team. That’s what I want to try to provide. You're never going to get it right in all aspects but the basis of it will be that we want to be a team that wins things and, ultimately, also entertains our fans."
Postecoglou has recruited former Celtic assistant coach Chris Davies, who worked under Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow, to his backroom team. Also among his inner circle will be Mile Jedinak, the former Crystal Palace midfielder who captained the Australia national team while Postecoglou was manager.
They will join the already in-house Ryan Mason, Matt Wells and Rob Burch, and their new boss declared the coming weeks crucial to implementing the football he wants to implement at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"It's as much about what we do off the field as what we do on it,” Postecoglou explained. “Starting with the coaching, which is probably the most important aspect," he said. "They're really bright, talented and ambitious guys. It's a great mix. We've got guys who know this football club very well in Ryan, Matt and Rob, even coming through the academy so they know the whole Spurs experience and what it means. So it's great to have them.
"Then Chris is somebody I've followed from afar, an ambitious young guy and Mile I know really well obviously because he was captain of my national team and a determined bloke to bring success wherever he is. I know that success will follow him because he's been a leader from a very young age.
"The most important thing for me in these early parts is people getting to know me. That's staff members, players, people associated with the club, they need to get to know me, what I'm about. If they get to know me and believe in me, whatever I need to do after that is easier. That’s the first bit.
"It’s a huge organisation and, for me, to allow that to happen means I have to be present in as many areas as I can be in this early part, and that’s what I will try to do, make sure I’m present in every aspect of the football club, so people at least have some exposure to me.
"Beyond that, it’s working with the players. They are the most important people. Players are the most important people in this football club and every football club. We have six weeks - how can we prepare these guys to make sure come the first weekend of Premier League football that we’re ready to go?"
