Pressure Doesn't Enter My Head, Says Bullish Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou maintains that external scrutiny regarding his role will not impact his approach.
The team is without a victory in his first six games since the coach replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the club's stadium.
A section of Forest fans shouted, "you'll be dismissed in the morning", towards the former Tottenham and Celtic boss following Thursday's 3-2 European defeat at their ground to Midtjylland.
The Manager's Reaction to Pressure
Postecoglou, though, mentioned that the Europa League title he secured at Tottenham the previous campaign, prior to being dismissed in the off-season, was evidence he does not allow pressure to impact his management.
"I don't think about it," he added. "My duty involves ensuring this team progresses and gets to a level where it can compete for titles," stated Postecoglou.
"If I start setting deadlines to that or worry about what is occurring soon then I am not performing the role I have been given.
"I just don't think it is helpful to anyone. At the end of the day, I have to focus on the atmosphere, the practice sessions, the style of play, and as I mentioned last night, I am remain very, very strong in my conviction that we are not too far away.
"Put it this way - I was aware I was getting sacked at Tottenham about 3-4 months before I did, but that didn't prevent me from securing a trophy."
Career Background
The 60-year-old moved to Spurs from Celtic in 2023 and fans initially embraced the Australian for his attacking style of play, with the Londoners ending up fifth in the English top flight during his debut campaign.
Postecoglou's following season was more difficult as Spurs finished 17th in the table. He nevertheless, guide the team to their initial silverware in 17 years as they beat Manchester United in the Europa League championship match.
Present Situation
Forest travel to Newcastle United on the weekend (14:00 BST).
With the current unfavorable streak of results, there is little doubt it has been a difficult beginning for Postecoglou.
And the numbers illustrate just how disappointing Forest have been since his appointment.
Performance Analysis
- In Postecoglou's half-dozen games, they have lost on four occasions across three different competitions
- No Premier League team has lost as numerous games as Forest since his appointment
- They have conceded thirteen scores - at a rate of over two per game
- Only Manchester United and Burnley have a poorer defensive per game average than Forest since Postecoglou's appointment
- Unexpectedly, it is the 35th occurrence in which a Premier League manager has not secured a victory in any of first six fixtures in every tournament
Record Context
Paul Jewell holds the record, having not won in his first 27 matches as Derby County manager in the 2007/08 season.
Nuno was fired after just three matches of this season when Forest were 10th in the table. They are now seventeenth, having drawn one and been defeated twice of their three domestic games under Postecoglou.
He is the first permanent Forest coach in a century not to secure a victory in any of first six matches.
Supporter Viewpoint
This season should have been one of Nottingham Forest's finest in modern history. Qualification for Europe for the first time in 30 years, the best squad this century and all involved pulling in the common goal.
Somehow, currently, that has completely vanished away. Nuno has departed, displays have been poor and on the recent evening the stadium criticized the recent appointment Ange Postecoglou after just six games.
And yet it's typically classic Forest, a team that veers from achievement to internal crisis like a novice motorist who can't stay in a traffic line.
Upcoming Challenges
Amid fixtures against Newcastle, the Blues, Porto, Bournemouth and the Red Devils approaching, it's quite difficult to predict if he can turn it around before it becomes even more toxic.
But question any fan and they'll tell you the identical thing, it's never dull at Nottingham Forest.
