Forest's manager begins board talks determined to retaining position at Nottingham Forest
Ange Postecoglou is set to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his managerial philosophy when he meets with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.
Defiant Postecoglou sees positive indicators during winless run
The former Tottenham manager was in defiant, nearly humorous form after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It prolonged his run without a win to seven matches since he replaced Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet the experienced coach, who unusually started with a back five, identified indications of improvement as he prepares for crucial discussions with club officials.
"Indeed, this is hopeless," he said, sarcastically. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. One must be up for the fight and the challenge. I’d be silly to be in this position at the sixty years old if I lacked self-belief or fight. Back in the playground I picked fights with people that defeated me."
Top flight theater lightly criticized
Warming to his theme, Postecoglou gently mocked the drama of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always considered 'under pressure'. "I understand that it’s part of the fanfare of the top division that it needs a coach to be in the limelight. If people want to evaluate my work less than a month into the job, there's nothing I can say or actions that will change that."
"But what I have seen and experienced in this period is that we are heading in the direction I desire us to. Positive outcomes will arrive. For now it is a battle and a contest and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things handed to us on a plate in life, we have to work hard. I have fought for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? The attitude today appears that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you replace it."
Accepting the challenge at Nottingham Forest
Amid much hilarity, he suggested that one reporter might have been "a lost cause at some point but your family persevered on you."
The manager then restated that he had joined the Nottingham Forest with his full awareness and always understood that his attempt to change Forest’s playing style would not be straightforward. "I knew this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think challenges are a problem, I love a test. The other option is sitting at home watching games and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have great enjoyment around it I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."
