Forest's manager begins director discussions intent on retaining position at Nottingham Forest
The Australian manager is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to keep confidence in his coaching approach when he holds talks with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis this week.
Resolute Postecoglou sees signs of progress during poor results
The Australian was in defiant, nearly humorous mood after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It extended his run without a win to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet the experienced coach, who surprisingly started with a five-man defense, identified indications of improvement as he prepares for vital talks with City Ground directors.
"Indeed, it’s a lost cause," he said, sarcastically. "I view this as an thrilling chance. One must be ready for the battle and the struggle. I’d be silly to be in this position at the sixty years old if I lacked self-belief or fight. Even in the playground I picked fights with people that beat me up."
Premier League pantomime gently mocked
Warming to his theme, Postecoglou lightly teased the pantomime of English top division that typically requires that at least one manager is always considered 'in trouble'. "I understand that this is part of the spectacle of the Premier League that it requires one manager to be in the limelight. Should individuals wish to assess me less than a month into the job, there's nothing I can say or do that will change that."
"However my observations and experienced in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I desire us to. The results will come. For now it is a battle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. Life doesn't give things handed to us on a plate in existence, we have to fight. I have fought for things all my life. Why must everyone want everything neatly packaged? Modern mentality nowadays seems to be that, as soon as something fails, you replace it."
Accepting 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 alter Forest’s playing style would not be easy. "I was aware this was a big challenge," he said. "This isn't bad with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a problem, I love a test. The other option is sitting at home viewing matches and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have a lot fun about this situation I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."
