Ange Postecoglou begins director discussions intent on keeping position at City Ground club

The Australian manager is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his coaching approach when he holds talks with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.

Defiant Postecoglou sees signs of progress during winless run

The Australian was in defiant, nearly humorous form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his run without a win to seven matches since he replaced Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a back five, identified indications of progress as he gets ready for vital talks with club officials.

"Indeed, this is hopeless," he said, sarcastically. "I see it as an thrilling chance. One must be ready for the fight and the challenge. It would be foolish to be in this position at the age of 60 if I lacked self-belief or fight. Back in the schoolyard I picked fights with people that beat me up."

Premier League pantomime gently mocked

Expanding on his point, Postecoglou gently mocked the drama of Premier League football that typically requires 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 limelight. Should individuals wish to assess me less than a month into the job, there's nothing I can say or actions that will change that."

"However my observations and felt in this timeframe is that we are heading in the direction I desire us to. The results will come. In the meantime 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 life, we have to work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? Modern mentality today appears that, as quickly as something fails, you change it."

Accepting the test at Nottingham Forest

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

The manager then reiterated that he had joined the City Ground with his full awareness and always recognized that his effort to change the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a big challenge," he said. "This isn't bad with that. I'm unsure why people think challenges are a burden, I love a challenge. The alternative is sitting at home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. Should journalists have great enjoyment around it I don't care. It doesn't bother me."