Forest's manager begins director discussions determined to retaining position at City Ground club
Ange Postecoglou is determined to persuade Nottingham Forest’s board to keep confidence in his coaching approach when he holds talks with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis this week.
Defiant Forest boss sees signs of progress during poor results
The Australian was in unbowed, nearly humorous mood after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It extended his winless streak to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet the experienced coach, who surprisingly started with a back five, detected signs of progress as he gets ready for vital talks with City Ground directors.
"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, with irony. "I view this as an thrilling chance. You have to be up for the fight and the challenge. It would be foolish to be in this position at the age of 60 if I lacked self-belief or fight. Back in the playground I picked fights with people that defeated me."
Top flight pantomime lightly criticized
Warming to his theme, Postecoglou gently mocked the drama of Premier League football that typically requires that at least one manager is always deemed 'in trouble'. "I get that this is part of the fanfare of the top division that it needs a coach to be in the limelight. Should individuals wish to assess me three and a half weeks into the role, there's nothing I can say or do that will alter that perception."
"However my observations and felt in this period is that we are heading in the direction I want us to. Positive outcomes will come. In the meantime it is a struggle and a contest and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things provided easily without effort in life, we have to work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why must everyone want everything perfectly arranged? The attitude nowadays appears that, as quickly as something fails, you change it."
Embracing the test at Nottingham Forest
During the lighthearted exchange, he implied that one reporter might have been "hopeless at certain time but your family persevered on you."
The manager then restated that he had joined the Nottingham Forest with his eyes wide open and always understood that his effort to change Forest’s playing style would not be easy. "I knew this was a big challenge," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think challenges are a burden, I love a test. The alternative is staying home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun around it I don't care. I couldn't care less."
