Many Spurs fans did not want their team to take points from City and give Arsenal a title boost.

Ange Postecoglou expressed his dissatisfaction with Tottenham’s mentality ahead of their defeat to Manchester City, criticising the club’s “really fragile” underpinnings.

Spurs went into their penultimate match of the season needing to win to keep their prospects of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League alive, but many fans did not want their team to win, fearing the ramifications in the Premier League title race.

Any dropped points for City would have given Arsenal control moving into the final day of the season, putting them in prime position to break a 20-year title drought.

As it was, Erling Haaland scored twice to give Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-0 victory, and they currently lead the standings by two points, knowing that a win against West Ham on Sunday will keep the trophy in Manchester for the fourth consecutive season.

While many Spurs fans were happy with the outcome, Postecoglou expressed dissatisfaction when asked if a mainly positive performance gave him confidence that the foundations for a successful team were being laid.

“No, I think the last 48 hours have revealed to me the foundations are fairly fragile,” the Spurs leader remarked. “That’s how I feel.”

“The last 48 hours have revealed quite a bit to me. That is fine; it simply means that I will have to start over with some things. Outside the club, inside. It’s been a fascinating exercise.

He continued, “I maybe misjudged the circumstances as to what I believe is necessary in our quest to become a winning club. But that’s fine; that’s why I’m here.”

Regarding shouts aimed at Arsenal throughout the match, with the atmosphere becoming increasingly casual as Spurs fell behind and then conceded a second, and how this was motivated by the north London rivalry, Postecoglou said: “I’m just not interested. Maybe I’m out of step, but I don’t care. I want to win and be successful with this football club.

“I have no interest in other people’s feelings or priorities. I know what it takes to construct a winning squad, and that’s what I need to focus on.”

He continued: “When we’ve got late winners in games, it’s because the fans have helped us.”