Tottenham have offloaded senior players such as Eric Dier, Hugo Lloris, Lucas Moura and Davinson Sánchez during the past two transfer windows, while Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich.

Asked if he is faced with tough decisions over outgoings, Postecoglou hinted they may extend past the playing squad by saying: “We’ve already made tough decisions, we let some experienced players leave the club at the beginning of the year, some by choice. But again, I feel like if we’re really going to change, that means change. You have to make decisions.

“Some of those decisions aren’t that tough because whether it’s a player or a staff member, they realise it themselves and say, ‘You know what, I’ve got a better path somewhere else and you’ve got a better path here.’ So they’re not that tough, but some of them you have to make just because of change, not necessarily because they don’t fit in the picture but you still have to change.

“I’ve got to change this squad, I have to. Because I’ve got to build a squad I think can play our football. For that to happen, there has to be exits. I can’t just keep everyone here and keep bringing in players. So sometimes you let people go who you think ‘he’s a good player’ but how am I going to change if I don’t do that.”

Some of Postecoglou’s successors have complained that they have been prevented from overhauling the Tottenham squad, but he is confident he has the backing of chairman Daniel Levy and chief football officer Scott Munn.

“All I can say is that at the moment I feel like the club has bought into my vision and it’s up to me,” said Postecoglou. “It’s not about patience, it’s about belief. I need to keep working and taking us forward in a manner that there is belief in the club that they should continue to support my vision for it.”

Postecoglou revealed that he took his oldest son to Anfield to watch Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Stoke City in 2016 and witnessed first-hand the support Jürgen Klopp received from the entire club.

“I think if you look at it for the most part, most successful clubs, that’s the kind of formula,” said Postecoglou. “Part of that responsibility lies on me to make sure that I’m leading in a way that allows people to believe in me and support me because it’s the only way I’m going to have success. I’m not going to do it on my own, that’s for sure. I never have.

“Wherever I’ve been, I’ve had great support and right now I have all the support I need. I really feel like the club has bought into the vision I have and it’s up to me to maintain that.”