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The Australian manager is set to persuade the club's directors to retain faith in his managerial philosophy when he holds talks with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis this week.

Resolute Postecoglou detects signs of progress amid poor results

The former Tottenham manager was in unbowed, almost jocular form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his winless streak to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet the experienced coach, who unusually started with a five-man defense, identified indications of progress as he prepares for crucial discussions with City Ground directors.

"Yes, this is hopeless," he said, with irony. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. You have to be up for the battle and the struggle. It would be foolish to be in this position at the sixty years old if I lacked confidence or fight. Back in the playground I chose battles with people that defeated me."

Premier League pantomime gently mocked

Warming to his theme, the Forest manager lightly teased the drama of Premier League football that typically requires that at least one manager is always deemed 'under pressure'. "I get that it’s part of the spectacle of the Premier League that it requires one manager to be in the limelight. If people want to evaluate my work less than a month into the role, there's no words or do that will change that."

"But what I have seen and felt in this timeframe is that we are heading in the path I desire us to. Positive outcomes will arrive. In the meantime it is a battle and a contest and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things handed to us without effort in life, we have to work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything perfectly arranged? Modern mentality today appears that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you change it."

Accepting the test at the club

During the lighthearted exchange, he implied that one reporter might have been "a lost cause at some point but your parents didn't give up on you."

Postecoglou then reiterated that he had joined the Nottingham Forest with his eyes wide open and always recognized that his effort to change the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a big challenge," he said. "This isn't bad with that. I'm unsure why people think challenges are a burden, I love a challenge. The alternative is sitting at home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. If you guys have great enjoyment around it I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."