Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou wants to see the team reach Manchester City's level - rather than for the Treble winners be dragged back to the field.
Postecoglou says there's no reason to wait for City to eventually fall away.
"If that's your only hope, waiting for the top ones to slip, I just don't think you get there. I really don't," said the Australian. "I'd rather them be at their best and we match them, get up to their level and exceed it, rather than hope they slip up. I just don't think that's a strategy. It is more of a wish.
"We got a real good indicator the other night and to be fair to the lads we hung in there, fought hard but we were playing against probably the best side in the world at the moment and there was a difference between us, for sure. If we're hoping they will come back to us, rather than us try to get to them, you're chasing a lost cause."
He added: "With those kind of things, it depends. It depends on everyone else. The one thing you know is managers like Pep and Jurgen, they're not going to stand still. It's not like it's a stationary target you're trying to hit. They're going to keep pushing the envelope to be better and improve.
"It's up to everyone else to match that and get up to that and try to exceed it and not shy away from the challenge. They have been very, very dominant teams for quite a while now, but there's only one way to break that cycle and that is for others to rise to that challenge.
"I just don't see them coming back to the field. Even with Jurgen going I still think there is a really strong squad there, a really strong mentality. I'll be very surprised if whoever takes over doesn't continue to build on that. I always think with those kind of things, it's up to the challengers to change the status quo. That can only happen if you have that sort of desire and will to challenge that and not be afraid of falling short, because ultimately if you don't, they're just going to keep winning."
