Ange Postecoglou admits he’ll speak to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis amid more bad results for the team.
But the Australian was in typically bullish mood after seeing his side lose 2-0 to Newcastle on Sunday, insisting he’d rather be in this position than watching the action unfold on the couch.
4
Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first seven matches as Forest bossCredit: Getty
The result extends Postecoglou’s wait for a first win as Forest boss to seven matches.
Goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade clinched all three points for the home side.
Postecoglou now remains at risk of losing his job in record-breaking time.
The former Tottenham manager has only been in charge at the City Ground for 26 days following his appointment on September 9.
As it stands, the shortest managerial tenure in Premier League history is Les Reed’s 40 days in the Charlton dugout.
Postecoglou could not resist a cheeky dig when asked where his motivation is to turn Forest’s fortunes around, though.
He told Sky Sports: “Where it always is. It’s alright, it’s a struggle, it’s a fight. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“That doesn’t worry me, that doesn’t deter me. That’s why I love what I do.
“I could have been sitting on a couch watching you guys. Depending who’s on, probably on mute.
“But I prefer to be here. I prefer to be right in the middle of it where I can have an effect and I believe I will.”
4
The under-pressure boss joked he could be ‘sitting on a couch’ instead of managing ForestCredit: Getty
The Australian faced chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ from Forest fans during Thursday’s Europa League loss to Midtjylland.
That defeat is one of five in his seven games in the job, with Forest drawing just twice in that time.
Ange’s meeting with Marinakis
The Australian admitted a meeting with club owner Evangelos Marinakis would be forthcoming amid the team’s poor run of results.
Postecoglou said in his press conference: “I expect to have a discussion with the owner and everyone else at the football club about what we’ve embarked on here, where we’re at and what we need to do.
“If people want to assess me after three and a half weeks where we’ve had seven games then there’s nothing that I can do about that.
“At the same time there’s nothing wrong with things being tough, that’s okay.
4
Marinakis’ decision to sack Nuno for Postecoglou has so far not paid off
“I’ve said a million times that I do have an option, I could’ve been sitting on a couch watching the game and not being in the middle of it.
“I’d rather be here, much rather be here. I love a fight. It’s a fight, it’s a struggle, so what? That’s okay.
“If people outside or even internally don’t think I’m the right person, it makes no difference for me.
“I knew when taking on this role it was going to be a massive challenge with what we were trying to do in changing the direction of the club. Nothing I’ve seen in the last three-and-a-half weeks has changed that.
“I love the challenge of taking the club to where it needs to be and I’m very confident we’ll get there.”
4
Forest’s loss to Newcastle leaves Postecoglou’s side just one point above the drop zoneCredit: Getty
The loss to Newcastle was already Forest’s sixth in 10 matches across all competitions this term.
It took the club until their 28th match last season to reach that tally.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou must now wait until after the international break for his next chance to claim a win.
Forest host Chelsea at the City Ground on October 18. Forest are currently in 17th place and just a point above the relegation zone.