Ange Postecoglou begins director discussions intent on keeping position at City Ground club
Ange Postecoglou is determined to persuade Nottingham Forest’s board to keep confidence in his managerial philosophy when he holds talks with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis this week.
Resolute Postecoglou detects positive indicators amid poor results
The Australian was in unbowed, almost jocular form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his winless streak to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet Postecoglou, who surprisingly started with a five-man defense, detected signs of progress as he prepares for crucial discussions with City Ground directors.
"Indeed, it’s a lost cause," he said, with irony. "I see it as an thrilling chance. One must be ready for the fight and the struggle. I’d be silly to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I lacked confidence or fight. Back in the playground I picked fights with people that defeated me."
Premier League theater lightly criticized
Warming to his theme, the Forest manager gently mocked the drama of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always deemed 'under pressure'. "I understand that this is part of the fanfare of the top division that it requires a coach to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to evaluate my work three and a half weeks into the job, there's no words or do that will change that."
"However my observations and felt in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I desire us to. Positive outcomes will come. For now it is a battle and a fight and there is no issue with that. Life doesn't give things handed to us without effort 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 seems to be that, as soon as something fails, you replace it."
Embracing the challenge at the club
Amid much hilarity, 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 knew this was a significant test," he said. "This isn't bad with that. I'm unsure why people think challenges are a burden, I enjoy a test. The other option is staying home watching games and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun around it I don't care. It doesn't bother me."
