Ange Postecoglou begins director discussions intent on keeping job at Nottingham Forest
Ange Postecoglou is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to keep confidence in his coaching approach when he meets with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.
Resolute Postecoglou detects positive indicators during poor results
The Australian was in unbowed, almost jocular form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his run without a win to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a five-man defense, detected signs of progress as he gets ready for crucial discussions with club officials.
"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, with irony. "I view this as an thrilling chance. You have to be ready for the battle and the challenge. I’d be silly to be sitting here at the age of 60 if I was without confidence or fight. Back in the playground I chose battles with people that beat me up."
Top flight pantomime lightly criticized
Expanding on his point, the Forest manager gently mocked the pantomime of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always deemed 'in trouble'. "I get that it’s part of the fanfare of the top division that it requires one manager to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to assess me 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 felt in this timeframe is that we are heading in the direction I desire us to. The results will come. For now it is a battle and a contest and there is no issue with that. We don't have things provided easily on a plate in existence, we have to fight. I have fought for things throughout my career. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? The attitude nowadays seems to be that, as soon as something fails, you replace it."
Embracing the test at the club
Amid much hilarity, he suggested that one reporter might have been "hopeless at some point but your family didn't give up on you."
The manager then restated that he had joined the City Ground with his eyes wide open and always recognized that his attempt to alter the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I knew this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a problem, I enjoy a test. The other option is sitting at home watching games and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun about this situation I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."
