ange Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest’s winless streak continued as they suffered a 3-2 defeat against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, marking six games without a victory under manager Ange Postecoglou. The result led to chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from the home crowd, although Postecoglou’s position is not believed to be under immediate threat.
Ange Postecoglou said: “I get it. I think it’s a valid assumption in modern football that there’s always a manager under pressure. That’s just part and parcel of what we do. I don’t think that way. Put it this way, I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham about three or four months before I did, but it didn’t stop me winning something (the Europa League). It doesn’t enter my head. My responsibility lies in making sure this football club progresses and gets to a position where it can challenge for things. If I start worrying about what’s going to happen next week, then I’m not performing the role I’ve been given. I just don’t think that’s helpful to anyone. The things I control are the environment, training and the way we play. I am still very, very strong in my belief that we are not too far away.”
Since taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo, Postecoglou has been working on implementing a more attacking style of play at Forest. Despite the recent poor results, he remains optimistic about the progress being made.
Postecoglou continued: “I’d be surprised if anyone hasn’t seen a change. Results to one side – and obviously that’s the ultimate measure – there’s plenty of evidence in the last five games to show that we have changed fundamentally the way we go about things, in terms of the way we set up, the possession we have, the chances we create and how aggressive we are with and without the ball. Of course, that’s always a work in progress and we are still in the stage of discovery around players – who’s adapted to it really quickly, who needs some time and who we need to work with to change things. That’s only natural when you’re shifting from one way of playing to another. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers. I would have been very surprised if anyone thought it would be an overnight thing. But I do think there’s plenty of evidence that the players have embraced it and we are playing differently.”
Despite the transition period, some fans remain skeptical about Postecoglou’s appointment, with a significant number expressing their preference for his predecessor, Nuno, during the recent match.
Postecoglou added: “I don’t like sending messages to fans. They love their football club and are obviously disappointed with the way things are going at the moment and disappointed with last night. The one thing I can do is fulfil the responsibility I have to get the team out there to change our fortunes. If we do that, then I’m sure the fans will be happier with everything.”
The manager’s focus remains on improving team performance and adapting his players to his tactical philosophy. As Forest continues to navigate this challenging period, Postecoglou’s belief in his methods and the team’s potential remains unwavering.
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