'It always ends with me and a trophy' - Defiant Ange Postecoglou promises success at Nottingham Forest if given time

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Ange Postecoglou has said his managerial tenures always end "with me and a trophy" after facing criticism over his start at Nottingham Forest. The Australian has failed to win any of his first seven matches in charge, losing five. Despite his Tottenham side finishing 17th last season, Postecoglou said their UEFA Europa League win is evidence that he does deliver success if given time.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Ange Postecoglou has responded to criticism of his spell at Tottenham Hotspur and difficult start at Nottingham Forest, saying his time in charge of a club "always ends the same - with me and a trophy".

The Australian is already under pressure at the City Ground after failing to win any of his first seven matches since taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo, with Forest reportedly in the process of identifying possible replacements.

It comes after the 60-year-old was sacked by Spurs at the end of last season, with their UEFA Europa League triumph proving insufficient after a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League.

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Speaking ahead of Forest’s clash with Chelsea on Saturday - which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Postecoglou delivered a defiant monologue, defending his time in north London while suggesting that he will get results at the City Ground if given time.

"Some look at the weeds, but I look at what is growing. I am really excited as I have a group of young players willing to change," Postecoglou said, while also confirming he did not speak to owner Evangelos Marinakis during the latest international break.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I am not wasting my time on what people think. I just don't fit, not here, just in general.

"If you look at it through the prism of 'I'm a failed manager who's lucky to get this job', then of course, this first five weeks looks like 'this guy's under pressure'. There is an alternative story that you could look at.

"I took over Tottenham and was told by the chairman at the time 'this club has to win a trophy'. He said: 'We've tried to bring winners in, Jose [Mourinho] and Antonio [Conte], and it hasn't worked, we need something different'. I was slightly offended by that because I see myself as a winner.

"We finished fifth in my first year. Every time Harry Kane scored a goal [for Bayern Munich], I'd wish he'd just stayed one more year because it would have been handy to have him after finishing fifth.

"But somehow that year has disappeared from the record books. In fact, it was used as a reason for me losing my job because even Tottenham decided to exclude the first 10 games, because they were an anomaly, apparently. Although the first 10 games here are very important, apparently."

Spurs won eight of their opening 10 Premier League games under Postecoglou, drawing the other two, with the Australian being named the Manager of the Month three times in a row.

But he has failed to have the same impact at Forest, picking up just one point from his first four league games, while registering the same tally from two Europa League matches and losing to Swansea in the Carabao Cup.

Highlights: Forest supporters turn on Postecoglou during five-goal thriller

Video credit: TNT Sports

After the fifth-placed finish in Postecoglou's first campaign, Spurs finished just one place, albeit 13 points, above the relegation zone in his second season.

But the Australian insisted this was a result of prioritising their Europa League run, which he believes should be the focus of his time in north London, instead of the domestic disappointments.

He said: "I was in meetings and people who are still at that club were in those meetings, where I was told winning a trophy is everything for this football club. That's fine.

"We win a trophy. We shed the tag of being 'Spursy', but all I've heard since I've finished at Tottenham is that we finished 17th last year.

"So if you look at it from that prism of we finished 17th, then, yeah, I'm a failed manager who's lucky to get another opportunity.

"But again, if I have to explain why we finished 17th, it doesn't have to be too in depth.

"Just look at the last five or six team sheets in the league last year and see what I prioritised - who was on the bench and who was playing.

"Before the last game, against Brighton, the players were out partying for two days, which I sanctioned because I felt they deserved to.

"So yes, we finished 17th. If people think that's a reflection of me and my coaching, then, again, I think they're looking at it through the prism of 'I just don't fit'.

"So, we get to the current space where there's a different story to tell, that maybe I'm not a failed manager who was lucky to get this job, but maybe I'm a manager that if you give them time, the story always ends the same.

"At all my previous clubs, it ends the same - with me and a trophy."

How to watch Forest v Chelsea

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ from 11:00.

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