Ange Postecoglou sends Newcastle United warning as Tottenham miss out on Champions League

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has warned Newcastle United and their Premier League rivals that they are not happy to settle for fifth place in the table next season.

The Australian guided Spurs into a Europa League place in his first campaign in charge in North London, after making the switch from Cetic last summer. Spurs improved from eighth place last season and challenged Aston Villa for a Champions League spot before fading away.

Spurs finished six points ahead of Newcastle, with both clubs jetting out to Australia for Wednesday's post-season friendly in Melbourne. Both will be looking to challenge for a top-four spot against next term, and Postecoglou is not happy to sit on his laurels following a promising first year in charge.

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“It is a great challenge in the Premier League and taking over a big club that didn’t have a great year last year, you understand it is not going to run smoothly,” Postecoglou said. “I have enjoyed the whole season. I have got some lofty ambitions for the football club and until we reach that point I am not going to be smiling too much.

“I have enjoyed it and looking forward to pushing on from here. I am obviously not delighted with the way we finished the season but in fairness to the players and staff we have been in the top five all season, in a year where there was a fair bit of upheaval.

“We finished eighth last year, player turnover, different football, different way of training, it is not easy to maintain a level when you are trying to do that. Even in our tough periods this year we have still been competitive for the most part. I think I have got maximum effort, which is all a manager can ask for.”

Newcastle face Spurs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, with the game kicking off at 10.45 UK time. Eddie Howe's squad will then face an A-League All Stars side on Friday at 8.05am before heading back to Tyneside.