Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has urged his players to "show the resolve and determination to stay the course" as their season hangs in the balance.
Thursday's 1-0 Europa League round-of-16, first-leg defeat to AZ Alkmaar was their 18th loss across all competitions this season.
Postecoglou is under mounting pressure over his position with Spurs 13th in the table while Guglielmo Vicario was involved in an exchange with supporters at full-time in Alkmaar as signs of dissent continue to grow.
With Spurs sitting 13th in the table ahead of Sunday's Premier League home game against Bournemouth, Postecoglou addressed questions on Friday over whether his players were beginning to doubt his approach or lack clarity over his high-press, high-risk style which has garnered so much attention.
"They don't lack clarity over it, no," he replied. "I don't think anyone lacks clarity. If anything people are saying it is too transparent. But you do need conviction to play that kind of football all the time, real belief. You need a really strong mindset because it is really challenging.
"It doesn't allow you to veer off into a different direction. It needs you to stay on course and it is the only way it works. Fair to say last night, we weren't on the road we need to be."
Pushed on whether they needed to make sure they stayed true to his methods whatever happens in a potentially season-defining week, Postecoglou said: "That's been there from day one. There wouldn't be anyone who has followed us for the last 20 months who would think anything other than that.
"We are determined to go down this road, we are determined to build something we believe, I believe anyway, will bring success to the club and every challenge along the way which tries to shift you away from that, that's when you have to show the resolve and determination to stay the course."
Postecoglou is hopeful that Dominic Solanke will shake off a knock to play against his former club Bournemouth while centre-back duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero could return after being unused substitutes against Alkmaar.