Spurs will not relax against Man City to deny Arsenal the title

Defeat or a draw against City next Tuesday could effectively hand Arsenal the title, but that is clearly of no concern to Postecoglou, whose side have suffered four successive defeats.

“I’m here fighting tooth and nail every day for everything I can get for this football club because that’s my responsibility,” Postecoglou said. “I would not give up any cause, even the most lost of causes, because then I would be shirking my responsibilities. I want to finish the season strong. I want us to try and win three football games and see where that takes us.”

Burnley must beat Spurs to avoid relegation on Saturday but cannot expect any favors from Postecoglou.

Asked if he and his players had given up on the season, Postecoglou replied: “It’s a tough term, give up. What does that mean I come here at 12 o’clock, have a latte, go home and let the boys train? I’m not giving up anything.

“I never said I didn’t care about finishing top four. What I said about finishing top four doesn’t mean we’re going to be the team I want us to be next year. This will not define us. I don’t give up and I’d be surprised if someone in my position at this level would come in with anything other than a 100% commitment to fight for everything because if you fail you invariably fail.”

“At the moment we are not a Champions League club”

When Postecoglou was told that Tottenham might be better off qualifying for the Europa League, a competition the club would be more likely to win next season, he said: “I understand that, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to finish as high as possible and enter the best possible competition.

“Finishing fourth and getting into the Champions League doesn’t make you a Champions League club in my opinion. It just gives you an opportunity to be there. For me, to be a Champions League club and to be at that level requires more than finishing fourth in a year.

“Do I think we are a Champions League club now? No, we are not. This is my belief.

“We still have work to do. That doesn’t mean I don’t want us to reach the Champions League. That’s self-defeating in terms of what I’m trying to create. If we finish fourth and get into the Champions League, it won’t change my view of where we are and what we need to do in the summer. That’s still very clear in my mind.”