Tim Sherwood responded to the Tottenham fans' taunts of "where is our manager?" by insisting he was not hiding from them or shirking responsibility in Spurs' 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.
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The head coach, who was a visible presence on the touchline during earlier games, chose to sit in the stands throughout the thrashing.
But Sherwood, who has spent more time watching on from various directors' boxes in recent weeks, said he hoped he would learn more after another defeat completed a dreadful season against top-four opposition.
Spurs have played eight league games against the sides in the Champions League positions, losing seven, taking only one point, scoring just two goals and conceding 27 and supporters turned on the head coach in the final few minutes at Anfield.
But Sherwood said: "They are entitled to having their opinion. Listen, I have sat up there for the last few games and I get a better view of the game and obviously it is a learning curve for me and when the team is not doing well they want to see you.
"They know me well enough to know that I am not shirking any responsibility here. I am in it with the team and it is my responsibility as well as [that of] the guys on the pitch.
"At 2-0 and the game going away from us and then 3-0 I think I am going to learn more about my players by sitting up there and getting a good look at rather than getting involved and maybe getting myself in trouble on the touchline.
"We see enough of me ranting and raving and it is time for me to start assessing and taking a step back and looking what we need to do for the future. Because our performances against teams in the top four, anyone above us, have not been good enough.
"I want to instil belief into the players and let them know they are not inferior to the sides they are stepping on the pitch against but the stats don't lie and the return of points [against the top four] is not good enough."