Ange Postecoglou enters board talks determined to keeping position at Nottingham Forest

Ange Postecoglou is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to keep confidence in his coaching approach when he meets with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.

Defiant Postecoglou detects signs of progress during winless run

The former Tottenham manager was in defiant, nearly humorous form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It extended his run without a win to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet the experienced coach, who surprisingly started with a five-man defense, identified indications of improvement as he prepares for vital talks with club officials.

"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, with irony. "I view this as an thrilling chance. One must 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 confidence or fight. Back in the schoolyard I picked fights with people that defeated me."

Premier League theater gently mocked

Warming to his theme, Postecoglou lightly teased the drama of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always deemed 'in trouble'. "I get that this is part of the spectacle of the top division that it requires a coach to be in the spotlight. If people want to evaluate my work less than a month into the role, there's nothing I can say or actions that will alter that perception."

"However my observations and felt in this period is that we are moving in the path I want us to. Positive outcomes will arrive. For now it is a struggle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have 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 perfectly arranged? The attitude nowadays seems to be that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you replace it."

Accepting the test at Nottingham Forest

During the lighthearted exchange, he suggested that one reporter might have been "hopeless at certain time but your parents didn't give up on you."

The manager then reiterated that he had walked into the Nottingham Forest with his eyes wide open and always recognized that his attempt to change the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think difficulties are a burden, I enjoy a test. The alternative is staying home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun about this situation I am unconcerned. I couldn't care less."