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Ange Postecoglou is determined to convince 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 Postecoglou detects positive indicators amid winless run

The former Tottenham manager was in defiant, almost jocular mood after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It prolonged his winless streak to seven games since he replaced Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a back five, identified indications of progress as he gets ready for crucial discussions with City Ground directors.

"Yes, it’s a lost cause," he said, sarcastically. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. You have to be up for the fight and the challenge. I’d be silly to be in this position at the age of 60 if I lacked self-belief or fight. Even in the schoolyard I chose battles with people that beat me up."

Premier League pantomime lightly criticized

Expanding on his point, the Forest manager lightly teased the drama of English top division that typically requires that at least one manager is always deemed 'in trouble'. "I get that this is part of the fanfare of the Premier League that it requires one manager to be in the limelight. If people want to assess me less than a month into the role, there's no words or actions that will alter that perception."

"But what I have seen and felt in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I want us to. The results will come. In the meantime it is a battle 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 work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? The attitude today seems to be that, as soon 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 some point but your family persevered on you."

Postecoglou then reiterated that he had joined the City Ground with his full awareness and always understood that his attempt to alter the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a big challenge," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think difficulties are a problem, I love a test. The other option is sitting at home viewing matches and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have great enjoyment about this situation I am unconcerned. I couldn't care less."