Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou believes management has turned into an "even more impossible" job and expressed his sympathy for Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag is back under pressure ahead of Sunday's clash with Spurs after a slow start to the new campaign continued with a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente.
The Dutch coach has regularly pointed out to his detractors that he has won two trophies at Old Trafford, but his future was under intense scrutiny before he masterminded an FA Cup final success over Manchester City in May.
Postecoglou has repeatedly stated since his arrival in England that silverware is not a guarantee of long-term success and echoed that sentiment again.
"I think Erik, in a real tough job, has done really well," he said. "He keeps mentioning he’s won two trophies and he has. I don’t think that’s insignificant. People keep telling me that’s what I have to do, but it’s obviously not all you have to do.
"I think if Erik hadn’t won anything last year, they would be saying, 'He’s just got to win something and everything will be all right’.
"That’s probably why I rail against it because it’s a trap you can fall into. Thinking all I have to do is win something and everyone is going to love me and think I’m doing a great job. That doesn’t exist.
"That’s why I keep saying the focus is on trying to build a group that can have the opportunity to have sustainable success.
"I think you need to do that because success isn’t guaranteed, but if you can create something that gives you the opportunity for it on a year-on-year basis, then I think you’ve got more chance of creating a period where the club can undeniably see itself as a contender."
The experienced Australian pondered the shelf life of a modern-day manager having been minutes away from a potential crisis last week before Spurs avoided a shock Carabao Cup exit at Coventry.
But it is now Ten Hag back under the microscope.
Postecoglou added: "You have to understand that (pressure), it’s just part of your existence these days as a manager.
"I don’t know who coined the phrase the impossible job, but I think it’s become even more impossible now because it seems like success is not enough if it doesn’t have identity. Identity is not enough unless it’s followed by aesthetics. Aesthetics are not enough unless they’re followed by legacy.
"There’s always another layer. It seems like no one is doing a good job unless you win the comp at the end of the year. There doesn’t seem to be any sort of understanding of progress or the circumstances that people have to work under at times, but it’s just the nature of the role.
"I don’t think that’s going to change, so I guess it’s about how you respond to it, how you react to it, how you let it affect you."
Postecoglou will make a late call on his captain Son Heung-min after the forward limped off during their 3-0 Europa League win over Qarabag with "fatigue" in his hamstring.
The South Korean has been an indispensable player over the past 10 seasons and has scored 164 goals in 415 appearances for Tottenham, with his longest injury absence a broken arm in 2020 which sidelined him for two months.
Even though Son has played every minute of this season’s Premier League and featured in cup wins over Coventry and Qarabag, Postecoglou has admitted the club must be "sensible" about the 32-year-old’s schedule.
The Spurs boss explained: "I would have wanted to ease his workload this early part of the year, but we lost Richy (Richarlison) and we lost Dominic (Solanke), then we lost Wilson (Odobert).
"He’s played more than I think, than I certainly want him to, and the idea signing Dom, bringing in Wilson and extending Timo’s (Werner) loan was that we could manage his load because he’s got international football as well.
"It’s something that I’m mindful of, but it’s just the circumstances so far and Sonny always wants to play. That’s his attitude, but we’ve got to be sensible about it. I don’t think it’s got so much to do with his age because I haven’t seen that affect him.
"It’s more I just don’t think that kind of workload in the modern game is sustainable. We’ve spoken a lot about fixture overload and part of that responsibility lies with us to try to protect our players and certainly with Sonny we’re going to have to be mindful of that."
Meanwhile, Ten Hag is convinced Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes will soon be back to his best having made a slow start to the season.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 and is the club's most successful signing since Alex Ferguson retired.
Fernandes signed a new and improved deal until 2027, with the option of a further year, on the eve of a season that the United skipper has yet to set alight.
The Portugal international has provided four assists but has yet to find the net ahead of taking on Tottenham this Sunday.
"I think the team brings him now in the situation," Ten Hag said.
"I think he is capable, and he has proven this so many years already in the Premier League that he can create many chances. I am convinced this season he will not do differently.
"He will come and respond, he will find his form and he is already creating chances, but he will make final passes, he will score goals 100 per cent and it's just a matter of time."
Ten Hag was frustrated by his side’s mentality and lack of cutting edge against Twente and knows a far superior performance is needed across the board when Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs visit tomorrow.
"I think it will be a very intensive game," the United manager said. "It is always against Tottenham.
"I think it is our style as well, so I think it is going to be a very dynamic, attractive game.
"Of course every opponent has strengths and weaknesses and Tottenham have their strengths definitely.
"In their philosophy they are very clear, very attacking but that leaves also space, but that is what they take into account.
"Maybe that can help but you have to be very good against Tottenham.
"If you want to control the game, then you need again a high performance level and then we will create again, I am sure, and then it’s about taking your chances."
Rasmus Hojlund is pushing for his first start of the season having made two substitute appearances since returning from a hamstring issue sustained on United’s pre-season tour.
Mason Mount came on for his first match in a month on Wednesday after overcoming a muscle complaint, but Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw remain out.
Ten Hag also indicated that Victor Lindelof is not ready to return from a toe issue.
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