Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou rejects economic benefits of Champions League qualification – 'We're not banks'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has said he is prioritising progress over UEFA Champions League qualification.

Spurs are just two points outside the Premier League top four with a game in hand over fourth-place Aston Villa. Their current fifth-place position could even be enough for Champions League football next season.

This would give Tottenham a significant cash injection, but Postecoglou claimed this was not a priority when building his squad.

"We're not banks, we're football clubs," he said. "We're not financial institutions. I don't get measured by the balance sheet at the end of the year.

"What I'm saying is, Champions League, great. Money, great. Does that mean we're going to finish third next year? No, in fact it is probably going to be more challenging.

"My role in that is not to worry about the financial pressure of making Champions League, it is to create a squad that hopefully can compete in the Champions League and keep improving in the Premier League."

Postecoglou added: "How much money you make is not why you get into the Champions League. It is what you do with that money.

"Do you build on it? Do you build a squad or do you say 'because we're in the Champions League next year, we'll be great'.

"It's not just about having money, it's how you spend it. If I have half the money someone else does, if I spend it better then I can still beat them."

Postecoglou, who became Tottenham manager at the start of the season, also said he did not want to bring in players who were only interested in Champions League football.

"I want people who want to come to Tottenham," he explained. "I don't want those players [who are swayed by Champions League football] because they don't want to come to Tottenham, they want to play Champions League.

"I'm looking for a certain type of character. We have had two windows so far and I haven't had any issues in bringing players I want to this club despite not playing in the Champions League."

Tottenham host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League tomorrow, before travelling to Newcastle on Saturday, April 13, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

It will be another trophyless season for Spurs, with their last silverware coming in the League Cup in 2008.

Postecoglou shared his hopes to end the trophy drought next season, saying: "Progress is not an endless road, progress has the objective of being successful.

"I was hoping it would happen this year but it hasn't so my plan is for it to happen next year. The quicker it happens, the better for me and the football club."

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