‘I’m a Winner’ – Ange Postecoglou Comes Out Swinging in Fiery Defence of His Record as Pressure Mounts at Nottingham Forest

Clock Ticking for Postecoglou After Nightmare Start

Ange Postecoglou is a man used to proving people wrong — but this time, the noise feels louder than ever. The under-fire Nottingham Forest boss cut a defiant figure on Friday as he launched into a passionate, almost emotional defence of his managerial credentials, insisting that he will never truly be accepted in England despite a glittering career defined by success elsewhere.

“I’m a winner,” he declared — the words of a man who has heard enough talk about pressure, sackings, and supposed failures. But as Forest prepare to face Chelsea at the City Ground this weekend, the stark reality is that another defeat could spell the end of Postecoglou’s short and troubled tenure.

It’s been barely a month since the Australian replaced Nuno Espírito Santo, yet seven winless games later, he already finds himself at the centre of speculation about his future. The numbers are damning: this is Forest’s worst start to a season in more than a century, and they sit rooted near the bottom of the table, without a single victory under their new coach.

Still, Ange refuses to flinch. “If people want to look at me through the prism of being a failed manager who’s lucky to get this job, then of course it looks bad,” he told reporters, bristling at the suggestion that his reputation has been tainted by his recent struggles. “But there’s another story. Maybe I’m not a failed manager — maybe I’m a manager who, when given time, always ends the same way: with a trophy.”

A Winner’s Mentality in a Hostile Environment

The 59-year-old has never been one to mince words. In fact, Postecoglou’s self-belief is one of the defining traits that took him from managing in Australia and Japan to Celtic, where he won five domestic trophies in two seasons, and then to Tottenham Hotspur, where he famously lifted the Europa League last May.

The irony, of course, is that just days after that European triumph, he was shown the door at Spurs. The reason? A catastrophic league campaign that saw Tottenham finish 17th — their lowest-ever Premier League finish.

For many in England, that ending wrote the headline for his career: another idealist undone by the ruthless demands of the top flight. But Ange sees it differently.

“I took over Spurs — Spursy Tottenham,” he reminded journalists, using the club’s infamous reputation for underachievement. “I was told by the chairman, ‘This club has to win a trophy. We’ve brought in Mourinho, we’ve brought in Conte, and it hasn’t worked. We need something different.’

“Well, I was slightly offended by that because I see myself as a winner. And I did win them a trophy. If people still think I’m a failure after that, maybe that says more about them than me.”

It’s a fair point. Trophies, after all, are the currency by which managers are judged — and in that respect, Postecoglou’s CV is impressive. But football is rarely that straightforward, and the perception problem he’s describing — the feeling of being “an outsider” — continues to follow him.

“I just don’t fit,” he said, almost wistfully. “Not here, not at Forest, but in general. Maybe people just don’t want me to fit.”

Did Europe Cost Him His Spurs Job?

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC – Premier League

The Australian is adamant that Tottenham’s 17th-place finish last season had an explanation — one that most pundits conveniently ignored. He pointed to a clear strategic choice: prioritising the Europa League over domestic competition.

“If people want to understand why we finished 17th, it’s not complicated,” he said. “Look at our last five or six team sheets in the league. Look at who I prioritised, who I played, who was on the bench.

“The last game against Brighton — the players were out for two days partying, which I sanctioned because I felt they deserved it. So yeah, we finished 17th. But if people think that’s a reflection of my coaching, they’re not seeing the full picture.”

It’s a bold defence — and one that encapsulates Postecoglou’s stubborn streak. He’s never been afraid to do things his way, even if it means paying a short-term price. And at Forest, he’s hoping that same conviction will eventually bear fruit.

Feeling the Heat at the City Ground

Of course, that belief might soon collide with the harshest of footballing realities. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has never been shy about making decisive moves, and another defeat — particularly at home to a resurgent Chelsea — could push him toward another managerial change.

Postecoglou knows the stakes. But if he’s worried, he’s not showing it. “The flip side is I’m still excited about this opportunity,” he said. “I’ve got a group of young players who are open to change — that’s the first step. I’m heading down that road, and I’m not wasting time worrying about who’s saying what.

“Whether it’s internal or external, I couldn’t care less. My focus is simple: do what’s right for this football club and bring success. That’s it.”

For a man under so much scrutiny, his tone was remarkably calm, even humorous at times. “I mean, I only just found an apartment to move into,” he laughed. “Maybe that was a bad decision on my part. I should’ve stayed in temporary digs — that’s how early it is.”

The joke landed, but the truth behind it lingered. Postecoglou has barely unpacked his boxes, yet already he’s being asked if his job is safe. It’s a brutal reflection of modern football’s impatience, and he knows it.

“There’s always pressure,” he admitted. “But there’s a difference between pressure and people saying someone should lose their job after five weeks. That’s just the way it is in this business now.”

Facing Chelsea – No Time for Excuses

Nottingham Forest FC v FC Midtjylland – UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2

There’s little time to dwell on hypotheticals. Chelsea arrive at the City Ground this weekend, and for Postecoglou, the fixture brings an all-too-familiar sense of déjà vu. During his time at Tottenham, he faced the Blues four times — and lost all four.

But he insists that history means nothing now. “It’s always important to win the next game, no matter what’s come before,” he said. “We’re facing a very good opponent, but we’re at home, which helps. The players who stayed behind over the international break have trained well, and the lads who went away have come back in good condition.”

A victory against Chelsea could change everything — silence the speculation, steady the dressing room, and finally give the fans something to believe in. Lose again, though, and the calls for change may grow impossible to ignore.

Forest’s style under Postecoglou has shown flashes of promise, with high pressing, brave build-up, and plenty of attacking intent. But results have not followed, and in the Premier League, patience is rarely extended to managers still “building foundations.”

The Bigger Picture – Ange Against the World

For all the criticism, one can’t help but admire Postecoglou’s conviction. He has built his career on standing firm against scepticism — from his days in the Australian A-League, through his time in Japan, to conquering Glasgow with Celtic.

He’s a coach who values process over panic, identity over impulse. But in England, where the game moves faster and judgment is instant, that philosophy is constantly tested.

Maybe he’s right — maybe he doesn’t “fit.” But football often remembers the ones who didn’t. The ones who refused to bend to convention, who fought for their vision even as the walls closed in.

As Postecoglou himself said: “At all my previous clubs, it always ends the same — with me holding a trophy.”

Time will tell if Nottingham Forest ever see that ending. For now, the story is still being written — and if there’s one thing Ange Postecoglou has proven, it’s that he never stops fighting until the final whistle.