Forest's manager begins board talks determined to keeping job at City Ground club
Ange Postecoglou is set to persuade Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his managerial philosophy when he holds talks with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.
Resolute Forest boss detects positive indicators during poor results
The Australian was in defiant, almost jocular form after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It prolonged his run without a win to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet Postecoglou, who surprisingly started with a back five, detected signs of improvement as he prepares for vital talks with club officials.
"Yes, it’s a lost cause," he said, sarcastically. "I view this as an thrilling chance. One must be up for the battle and the challenge. It would be foolish to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I was without self-belief or fight. Back in the schoolyard I chose battles with people that beat me up."
Top flight theater gently mocked
Warming to his theme, the Forest manager lightly teased the drama of English top division that typically requires that at least one manager is always considered 'in trouble'. "I get that it’s part of the spectacle of the top division that it requires one manager to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to evaluate my work three and a half weeks into the role, there's nothing I can say or do that will alter that perception."
"But what I have seen and experienced in this period is that we are heading in the direction I want us to. The results will arrive. In the meantime it is a struggle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. Life doesn't give things provided easily without effort in life, we have to fight. I've struggled for things throughout my career. Why must everyone want everything perfectly arranged? Modern mentality nowadays appears that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you change it."
Embracing the test at Nottingham Forest
Amid much hilarity, he suggested that one reporter might have been "hopeless at some point but your parents persevered on you."
The manager then restated that he had joined the City Ground with his eyes wide open and always understood that his attempt to change the team's approach would not be easy. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a problem, I love a challenge. The other option is staying home watching games and I prefer not to do that. If you guys have great enjoyment around it I don't care. I couldn't care less."
