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The Australian manager is determined to convince the club's directors to retain faith in his coaching approach when he holds talks with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis in coming days.

Resolute Postecoglou sees positive indicators amid winless run

The former Tottenham manager was in unbowed, nearly humorous mood after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his run without a win to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a back five, detected signs of improvement as he gets ready for crucial discussions with club officials.

"Indeed, it’s a lost cause," he said, with irony. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. One must be ready for the battle and the challenge. It would be foolish to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I was without confidence or determination. Even in the schoolyard I picked fights with people that beat me up."

Top flight theater gently mocked

Warming to his theme, the Forest manager gently mocked the drama of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always considered 'in trouble'. "I get that it’s part of the spectacle of the top division that it requires a coach to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to assess me less than a month into the job, there's nothing I can say or actions that will alter that perception."

"However my observations and experienced in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I want us to. The results will come. For now it is a battle and a contest and there is nothing wrong with that. Life doesn't give things provided easily without effort in existence, we have to work hard. I've struggled for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything perfectly arranged? Modern mentality today seems to be that, as soon as something fails, you replace it."

Embracing the challenge at Nottingham Forest

Amid much hilarity, he suggested that one reporter might have been "hopeless at certain time but your parents persevered on you."

The manager then restated that he had walked into the Nottingham Forest with his eyes wide open and always recognized that his attempt to change the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a big challenge," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm unsure why people think challenges are a problem, I enjoy a challenge. The other option is staying home viewing matches and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have a lot fun around it I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."