Pressure Won't Affect Me, Affirms Bullish Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou maintains that external scrutiny regarding his position will not impact his approach.
The team is winless in his initial half-dozen games since the Australian took over from Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground.
A section of Forest supporters shouted, "you're getting sacked in the morning", towards the former Tottenham and Celtic boss following Thursday's 3-2 Europa League loss at home to Midtjylland.
The Manager's Reaction to Criticism
Postecoglou, however, stated that the European title he won at Tottenham last season, before being dismissed in the summer, was evidence he does not let pressure to impact his coaching.
"It doesn't enter my head," he added. "My responsibility involves ensuring this football club progresses and reaches a position where it can challenge for titles," stated Postecoglou.
"If I start setting deadlines to that or worry about what is going to happen soon then I am not fulfilling the position I have been given.
"I just don't think it is helpful to anyone. At the end of the day, I have to concentrate on the environment, the training, the style of play, and as I said recently, I am still very, very strong in my conviction that we are not too far away.
"To explain - I was aware I was getting sacked at Tottenham approximately 3-4 months before I was, but that didn't stop me from securing a trophy."
Professional History
The 60-year-old joined Spurs from Celtic in the previous year and fans initially embraced the coach for his attacking style of play, with the Londoners finishing 5th in the Premier League during his debut campaign.
Postecoglou's following season was challenging as Spurs finished 17th in the standings. He did, however, lead the team to their first trophy in 17 years as they defeated Manchester United in the Europa League championship match.
Current Situation
Forest visit Newcastle United on Sunday (2pm UK time).
Amid the 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 arrival.
Performance Analysis
- In Postecoglou's half-dozen games, they have been beaten on four occasions across three different competitions
- No top-flight team has been defeated in as many matches as Forest since his appointment
- They have conceded 13 goals - at a rate of over two per game
- Only Manchester United and Burnley have a worse defensive per game record than Forest since Postecoglou's appointment
- Surprisingly, it is the 35th occurrence in which a top-flight manager has failed to win in their first six matches in every tournament
Record Perspective
Paul Jewell holds the record, having not won any of his first 27 games as Derby County boss in the 2007/08 season.
Nuno was dismissed after only three fixtures of this campaign when Forest were tenth in the table. They are currently 17th, having drawn one and lost two of their three domestic games under Postecoglou.
He is the initial full-time Forest manager in a century not to win his first six fixtures.
Supporter Viewpoint
This campaign should have been one of Nottingham Forest's finest in modern history. Entry into Europe for the first time in three decades, the strongest team this millennium and everyone at the club pulling in the same direction.
Unexpectedly, currently, that has completely vanished out of the window. Nuno has left, performances have been poor and on Thursday night the stadium turned on the recent appointment Ange Postecoglou after only six games.
However it's typically classic Forest, a team that veers from achievement to self-made disaster like a learner driver who fails to remain in a lane.
Upcoming Challenges
With games against the Magpies, Chelsea, Porto, the Cherries and Manchester United approaching, it's quite difficult to say whether he can turn it around before it becomes even more negative.
But ask any supporter and they'll tell you the identical thing, it's never dull at Nottingham Forest.
