Postecoglou defends Spurs's inconsistency with metaphor, 'going for everything

Ange Postecoglou responded to criticism over Tottenham's inconsistent performances by declaring: 'If you want to grow a beautiful garden, you have to handle some fertiliser!'

Tottenham will welcome Aston Villa on Sunday on the back of two defeats in their last three Premier League games.

Spurs produced one of their worst performances of the season against Crystal Palace in last weekend's 1-0 defeat, only to knock Manchester City out of the League Cup three days later.

Those recent results have seen the age-old criticisms of Tottenham's character and consistency rear their head despite Spurs winning eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions, reaching the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup and sitting second in the Europa League.

'Until we have success, that is always going to be the first thing people come at us about as a club and you have got to accept that,' said Postecoglou. 'It is part of our journey and part of us becoming stronger.

'Whether it is deserved or not, criticism and scrutiny is healthy because it allows you to reflect on your beliefs and your convictions.

'If you flinch at the first time people are critical or want you to change your path then it probably means you are not definite about what you are doing.

'It is up to us how we behave. Even if we went on another fantastic run, at the first sign of us faltering the same questions would come because it is kind of where we are at as a club at the moment.

'I said to the players, if you want to grow a beautiful garden you have to handle some fertiliser. That is the only way it will happen.'

Tottenham's victory over City set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United and left Postecoglou just three wins from his first trophy with the club.

Would Postecoglou take a trophy instead of a place in the top four? 'I want it all, mate,' he said.

'I want everything. And it sets me up for people to maybe ridicule me at the end of the year because I said I want it all and I fall short of that, but I'll take the biggest bite I can and see what comes out of it. We'll go for everything.'

Postecoglou also confirmed that Micky van de Ven will be out until after the international break after he suffered a hamstring injury against City.