Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says it is more important for his side to demonstrate clear signs of progress than win unconvincingly against Manchester United on Saturday.
Postecoglou's tenure got under way with a 2-2 draw at Brentford last weekend and the Australian is eager for his new-look team to build on the performance in his first home game in charge.
Postecoglou permanently succeeded Antonio Conte on a four-year deal in June and has been tasked with transforming Spurs' style of play and broader culture,
Asked how important it would be to beat United, he said: "Getting just a win, I don't know if that does anything.
"If we go out there and win 1-0, but we're not convincing in our performance, we'll feel good for a couple of days but it will not give me any real solace that we're heading in the right direction. A strong performance is what we're after.
"Obviously we want to win, that goes without saying but you want to win off the back of playing our football, showing signs of progression from last week, trying to impose our game against a really good opponent and win that way and that is how you accelerate belief.
"We can't be in a situation where there is a desperation just for a result because it goes against the grain of everything we're trying to build here but we fully understand and I fully understand for a lot of people that is the only measure.
"You just have to accept that but for me tomorrow it is about a strong performance, progression from last week against a really good opponent and hopefully that gives us the momentum to keep going.
"My plan is to win. That is the only thing that my focus is on but as I said before, the way we play is important to that."
Postecoglou is expected to get a warm reception from supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although the club's official supporters' trust has organised a pre-match protest against a rise in ticket prices.
"They are not coming to a carnival," Postecoglou said of fans. "It is a football match and they want to go home with three points, but within that context I want to play football that does excite them for sure and not just them but I want everyone talking about the way we play.
"That has always been my marker as to making an impact and within that context, it takes us to the point where we have success but it is not about making them happy, it is about giving them joy - and joy comes from suffering.
"I am saying that because I listened to a podcast during the week and I thought it was a great description of what football is about. It is not about being happy because you actually suffer a game of football until that joyous moment when the ball goes in the net or you win the game.
“That is kind of a nice way of what I am trying to do. I want to bring them joy but they need to understand there will be some suffering within that."
Postecoglou understands why many supporters are frustrated and said he was focussed on trying to build a team that fans could respond to.
Asked his view on the protest and wider unrest, he said: "My role within that is to make sure the stuff I am in control of, they respond to it in a positive way because ultimately it is their football club.
"The beginnings at Celtic were very similar, there was a lot going on, on and off the pitch at the time and it's only natural when football clubs have a disappointing period that there is going to be that environment with people unhappy, but my role within that is to hopefully get people to focus on what we're all here for and that is the football club, the players, the team and having success.
"There is no doubt that we will get there quicker if we're united on and off the field absolutely, but I have never and never will tell people how they should feel, how they should behave or the context of how to express their emotions. I think that is their right and they have earnt their right to do that. My role within that is to try produce a team that gets us united to what's most important."
