Antonio Conte hit back at Spurs fans booing his side warning: Remember where we've come from - this time last year we were in the Europa Conference League.
Fans voiced their half-time frustrations after Mo Salah hit a first-half brace with Harry Kane only able to grab a second-half consolation.
But Conte - who has the club in the last 16 of the Champions League and fourth in the Premier League - said: "I continue to repeat the same thing I've said since the start of the season: We've just started a process and after one year we've made a lot of improvement.
"But we are not at the level of some teams that are already ready to win. That will be really, really, really difficult. When you start - and Liverpool is a good example - you need time and patience.
"We finished the Champions League group in first place. Last season we were in the Europa Conference League and struggled in the group. So we need to be calm and assess the situation. Look at where the situation was a year ago.
"Now there is a project, there is a vision. The club knows the best way to improve but we need to find enthusiasm and patience. It is my fuel. I need to have this."
Conte - who has won two titles in Italy and another with Chelsea in England - welcomed back Dejan Kulusevski from injury with the Sweden international assisting for Kane's goal.
Lucas Moura was also a late substitute but Conte is still missing strikers Son Heung Min and Richarlison.
He went on: "When a club like Tottenham is missing these players it is not like other clubs.
"Tottenham can't lose all these important players. If you ask me, we have to be ready to manage the situation and I think we are doing that in the best possible way."
Conte also revealed Son has left hospital after surgery on a fractured eye socket and should make Qatar in two weeks.
He said: "With Sonny, I sent him a message on Saturday after the surgery and he was really really disappointed with this situation. But I hope for him to recover very well and to play in the World Cup."
