Ange Postecoglou insists that the problems of Nottingham Forest are not due to his tactics, despite the growth of unrest among supporters after six games without a victory.
The Australian faced the media on Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the defeat of Forest 3-2 Europa League at home at Midtjylland. That result left his side without a victory because on September 9 he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo and replaced the singing of “fired in the morning” from sections of the city ground.
He was not fired in the morning, but Postecoglou is now the favorite to be the next Premier League manager who loses his job – even though he was in his reign for less than a month.
Ange Postecoglou blames unfocused Nottingham Forest players for a bad form
Postecoglou is accused of annoying forest by trying to move too quickly from the pragmatic blueprint of Nuno to his characteristic attacking approach. But the 60-year-old rejected that suggestion and instead pointed his finger at the concentration levels of his players.
“It would surprise me if someone didn’t see any change,” he said. “Opzij results – I know that is the ultimate measure – but there is enough evidence that we have changed the foundations around how we do things.
“We are still in the phase of discovery around players. We need time to change things. I would be very surprised if someone thought it would be an overnight stay.
“Because the results have not been followed, there is always a question mark about whether the change has been a good or not.
“If I had to determine it, it was not the change in the playing style that did not allow us to win games. It was the lack of focus at important moments.”
Ange Postecoglou on the new set piece fragility of Nottingham Forest
Set pieces have quickly become Forest’s Achilleshiel under Postecoglou. They have already sent six goals from corners or free kicks in his first six games – including two against Midtjylland on Thursday.
That is a sharp contrast with last season, when Forest was one of the most organized teams of the Premier League in defending dead-ball situations under Nuno.
Thinking about the Midtjylland defeat admitted Postecoglou: “Like I said last night, we are not very good with important moments in games. Certainly, last night we admitted a really bad first goal of a set piece. We came back in the game and then they literally had a set piece and we just didn’t have it involved.”
Tottenham fans will sound familiar. During his two years in North London, Spurs gave more set-piece goals than any other Premier League side. Postecoglou repeatedly defended his refusal to appoint a specialized set-piece coach, and insisted that his teams worked on them anyway.
“I know, for some reason thinks people think that I don’t care for set pieces and it is a story that you can continue with centuries and ages,” he said after Spurs lost a derby in Noord -London to Arsenal in September 2024. “We work on it all the time, but we have paid a price.
That philosophy has transferred to Nottingham. Although Postecoglou again emphasized that the problem is concentration than tactics, the figures are damn. Forest has quickly become one of the best of the competition to close set pieces last season.
Ange Postecoglou has not won one, two signed and lost four of his first six games as Nottingham Forest Manager
Ange Postecoglou not impressed by Sack Talk
Immediately asked about his job security, Postecoglou rejected the idea that he is being digested by the fear of the bag.
“It is a valid assumption in modern football that there is always a manager under pressure – that’s just a part of what we do – but I don’t think so,” he said.
“Say it that way – I knew that I was fired in Tottenham about three or four months before I did that, but that didn’t stop me from gaining.
“It is not in my head. My responsibility is to ensure that this football club is progressing and reaches a position where it can challenge for things.
“If I start to place timelines on time or worry about what will happen next week, I will not play the role I have received.”
Ange Postecoglou will not try to win Nottingham Forest -fans with words
Forest supporters put on postecoglou in midweek, but the manager said he would not try to win them with words.
“I don’t like to send messages to fans,” he explained. “They love their football club and are disappointed about the way things go. All I can do is fulfill my responsibility.”
Forest Travel to St James’ Park on Sunday, where Postecoglou hopes that a positive result can change the mood.
“It’s a difficult game,” he said. “If we can go there and get a result, it would certainly lift everyone and get the conviction that we can turn our current situation.
“It is a bursting atmosphere, also an exciting fixture, so I’m looking forward to it.”
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