Nottingham Forest will decide during the international break whether to stick with Ange Postecoglou if their winless streak is extended at Newcastle on Sunday.
Thursday’s home defeat by Midtjylland in the Europa League, in front of owner Evangelos Marinakis, saw the home crowd turn on Postecoglou after a sixth game without a victory for the Australian, who was appointed only on September 9.
Fans chanted ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ and sang for former boss Nuno Espírito Santo – himself dismissed by Forest only last month and now at West Ham.
Forest travel to Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday ahead of a two-week international break. Postecoglou desperately needs to turn the tide with a victory at St James’ Park, which would be Forest’s first in any competition since the opening day of the season.
Speaking yesterday, Postecoglou insisted he can still turn things around at the City Ground, saying that pressure is part of his job. Asked about his position at Forest, he said: ‘I get it, it’s a valid assumption in modern football there’s always a manager under pressure, that’s part and parcel of what we do.
‘I don’t think that way. I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham three or four months before I did. It didn’t stop me winning something. It doesn’t enter my head. If I start worrying about what’s going to happen next week, I’m not performing the role I’ve been given.’
Postecoglou has made the worst start to a Forest manager’s reign in 100 years. He has been in charge for six games in all competitions and won none of them.
Earlier this week, Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White praised Postecoglou, but added his approach to the game was the ‘polar opposite’ to last season.
Postecoglou, speaking at a press conference to preview the Newcastle game, said: ‘The things I control are the environment training, the way we play. I am strong in my belief we are not too far away.’
Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham despite leading the club to the Europa League title last season, as Spurs bosses deemed the club’s 17th-placed finish in the Premier League unacceptable.
Ange Postecoglou’s future at Nottingham Forest is in doubt already after 24 days in charge
Evangelos Marinakis was visibly frustrated watching Forest lose again – this time to Midtjylland
When he was hired by Forest, the 60-year-old’s main target was to win a second straight Europa League title, as that would secure a place in next season’s Champions League – the quickest way to achieve Marinakis’ ambitious goals.
That remains a possibility, as there have been only two rounds of the eight-match league phase. But apart from the first half at Real Betis last week and parts of the 1-1 draw at Burnley, Forest’s displays have been below expectations, and they could end the weekend in the bottom three if results do not go their way.
