It is a reflection of modern football’s zero-patience culture and the nature of how Ange Postecoglou’s teams develop that this season each match Tottenham Hotspur play is being relentlessly probed for deeper meaning.

Is this the game when “Angeball” properly clicked? No? What about this one? How about this result? Is it proof that it will actually never work?

It is only natural to look at things this way, especially when you keep being told this is a long-term project. And in fairness, there has been a neat narrative arc at most of his previous teams where you could see it happening in real time.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have won eight of their past 10 games.Credit: Getty Images

After beating Manchester City 2-1 on Thursday morning (AEDT) to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, the question was posed again: was this a “big step forward” for his side? Given he’d won against City and tactically bettered Pep Guardiola for the first time in his tenure. Surely?

When Postecoglou smirks as a question is still being delivered, it is usually worth listening closely to the answer.

“I’m not going to go for big steps forward or big steps back,” he said.

“We’re the same team we were three days ago. We’re a side that’s growing, we’re developing. I’ve seen progress, I continue to see progress, and we’re going to have stumbles along the way. And the same way we don’t lose our nerve after having a poor one on the weekend, tonight doesn’t mean we need to change our approach.

Ange Postecoglou and Pep Guardiola embrace at full-time.Credit: AP

“We’ve just got to keep working at what we’ve been doing and keep believing in the process of what we’re trying to build. The key thing for us is the victory, because in a........

© Brisbane Times