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Ange Postecoglou is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his coaching approach when he meets with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.

Defiant Forest boss detects positive indicators during poor results

The former Tottenham manager was in defiant, almost jocular 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 progress as he gets ready for vital talks with club officials.

"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, sarcastically. "I see it as an thrilling chance. You have to be up for the battle and the struggle. It would be foolish to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I was without self-belief or fight. Back in the playground I chose battles with people that defeated me."

Premier League theater gently mocked

Expanding on his point, Postecoglou gently mocked the pantomime of Premier League football that typically requires that at least one manager is always deemed 'under pressure'. "I understand that it’s part of the fanfare of the Premier League that it needs one manager to be in the limelight. Should individuals wish to assess me three and a half weeks into the role, there's nothing I can say or do that will change that."

"But what I have seen and experienced in this period is that we are heading in the direction I want us to. Positive outcomes will come. In the meantime it is a struggle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things provided easily without effort in life, we have to fight. I have fought for things throughout my career. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? Modern mentality nowadays seems to be that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you replace it."

Accepting the challenge at the club

During the lighthearted exchange, he implied that a journalist might have been "a lost cause at certain time but your family 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 alter Forest’s playing style would not be straightforward. "I knew this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think challenges are a burden, I enjoy a challenge. The other option is sitting at home viewing matches and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have a lot fun around it I don't care. I couldn't care less."