Ange Postecoglou knows next month will be “important” for Tottenham but is confident they will improve and not be mid-table by Christmas.
Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday, reeling from a disappointing home defeat to Ipswich before the international break.
The club’s problems have multiplied over the past fortnight, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur suspended for seven domestic matches on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a long list of absentees.
However, Postecoglou remains optimistic about Tottenham’s progress and fully aware of the scrutiny he will face if they remain 10th.
“Christmas is a joyous occasion, regardless, and I think it should be celebrated. If we are still 10th, people will not be happy, I will not be happy, but we may not be 10th,” Postecoglou stressed before nine games in 30 days.
“Definitely for us I think it’s an important period because you look at these matches and we have the league where we have to improve our position and some important European matches which can prepare us for the second half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final.
“At the end of this period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half, so this is an important period for us.
“You know there are no more international breaks, so all the attention is there. You can build momentum through this, or if things don’t go well, you could find yourself in a difficult situation.
“Of course, if we’d beaten Ipswich we’d be third and I think this press conference would be a lot different, don’t you think?
“I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one outcome, I’m sorry. I take a broader perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we certainly need to rethink our position.
“And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah, it won’t be great. There would be a lot of surveillance and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I anticipate us being.
Tottenham’s immediate push to move up the table will require them to end City’s two-year unbeaten run in the Premier League.
The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions but have some key members returning for Saturday’s clash and will aim to celebrate Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory.
Postecoglou was happy to see Guardiola commit to two more seasons in England, adding: “I like the fact that there is a huge goal that can seem insurmountable.
“I see things differently. I say, ‘imagine if you dropped him that would be something.’
“I’m at a point in my life where I’d rather have the chance to knock it off than miss the opportunity.
“When greatness is there, you want to be next to it. And I hope it also challenges you to be like that.
Saturday’s game will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what it takes to reach triple figures.
“I took over a club that finished eighth,” Postecoglou said.
“No European football, significant turnover of players, change in style of play. Where did I think we would be after 50 games? God knows.
“It could have been a lot worse, but when you look at it through the current prism of where we are in 10th place, you say ‘that doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we need to improve that.
“But over the course of 50 games, I think there are enough things that show that we are progressing as a team and evolving into the team that we want.
“The key is the next 50 games, if they can be better overall than the first 50? Firstly, it means I’m here, but secondly, I think we’ll be in a good space.