Forest's manager enters director discussions intent on retaining job at Nottingham Forest
The Australian manager is determined to persuade the club's directors to keep confidence in his managerial philosophy when he meets with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.
Defiant Forest boss detects positive indicators amid poor results
The former Tottenham manager was in unbowed, nearly humorous mood after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It extended his winless streak to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet the experienced coach, who surprisingly started with a back five, detected signs of improvement as he prepares for crucial discussions with club officials.
"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, sarcastically. "I see it as an exciting opportunity. One must be up for the fight and the challenge. It would be foolish 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
Expanding on his point, Postecoglou lightly teased the drama of Premier League football that almost demands that at least one manager is always considered 'under pressure'. "I get that this is part of the spectacle of the Premier League that it requires one manager to be in the spotlight. If people want to evaluate my work less than a month into the job, there's no words or do that will alter that perception."
"But what I have seen and experienced in this timeframe is that we are moving in the path I want us to. The results will arrive. For now it is a struggle and a fight and there is no issue with that. We don't have things provided easily on a plate in existence, we have to work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything perfectly arranged? The attitude nowadays seems to be that, as soon as something goes wrong, you change it."
Accepting the test at the club
During the lighthearted exchange, he implied that a journalist might have been "hopeless at some point but your parents persevered on you."
Postecoglou then restated that he had joined the Nottingham Forest with his eyes wide open and always understood that his effort to alter the team's approach would not be easy. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "This isn't bad with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a burden, I love a test. The alternative is sitting at home viewing matches and I prefer not to do that. If you guys have great enjoyment around it I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."
