'Arrogance of Jose Mourinho but end product of Gary Neville' - Ange Postecoglou drives fans berserk by again pointing to trophy record in defence of terrible start at Nottingham Forest

Postecoglou famously said he "always wins things" in his second season at a club in September 2024, before guiding Tottenham to Europa League glory at the end of the campaign in May. The 60-year-old is seemingly hoping lightning strikes twice, as he pointed to his record of collecting silverware again in his pre-match press conference ahead of Forest's home game against Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, despite the fact they will be facing a relegation battle if their current form continues.

"I am a manager who, if you give him time, the story always ends the same. At all my previous clubs, [it ends] with me and a trophy," he said. However, his words have not gone down well with already-disgruntled Forest fans, while he has been ridiculed by rival supporters.

Overall it was a barbed press conference from Postecoglou, who launched into a staunch defence of himself and his capabilities as a manager. "I guess from my perspective I just don't fit, not here, just in general. If you look at things through the prism that I am a failed manager who is lucky to get this job, I know you're smirking at me, but that's what's been said, then of course these first five weeks looks like this guy is under pressure. But there is an alternative story," he said.

"I came to the Premier League two years ago and I took over at Tottenham, I was told by the chairman [Daniel Levy] that this club has to win a trophy. He said we've tried to bring winners in: Jose [Mourinho], Antonio Conte, and it hasn't worked. We need something different. I was slightly offended by that because I see myself as winner. I took over Spurs who finished eighth. Massive club, but no European football, and one that can't go two years without European football. We finished fifth in my first year and every time Harry Kane scores a goal [for Bayern after leaving Spurs] I go, 'I wish he stayed just one more year'. It would have been handy to have him after finishing fifth.

"But somehow that [first] year has disappeared from the record books. It was even used as a reason for me losing my job because even Tottenham decided to exclude the first 10 games. Yet the first 10 games here [at Forest] are important apparently.

"We win a trophy. We shed the tag of being 'Spursy'. [We get] Champions League football, which brings some rewards and the opportunity to bring greater players. But all I have heard since I finished at Tottenham is that we finished 17th last year. So if you look at it through the prism of finishing 17th, then I am a failed manager who is lucky to get another opportunity. 

"So yes we finished 17th. But if people think that's a reflection of me and my coaching then again, I think they are looking at it through the prism of I just don't fit. So we get to the current space [at Forest] where there is a different story to tell, that maybe I am not a failed manager who was lucky to get this job and instead maybe I am a manager who, if you give him time, the story always ends the same. At all my previous clubs, [it ends] with me and a trophy."

Things don't get much easier for Postecoglou as the Premier League returns this weekend, with Forest hosting Chelsea in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off. He will hope his words galvanise his players ahead of what is sure to be a stern test, but it seems even a positive result might not be enough to save his job.

According to the BBC, the club hierarchy has already begun the process of identifying potential replacements for the outspoken Australian, with the search ramping up during the October international break amid growing discontent among the fanbase following his abysmal start in the dugout. Ironically, they are said to be after a more defensive-minded coach, not dissimilar to the sacked Nuno, with another Portuguese tactician in Fulham's Marco Silva on their radar, as well as out-of-work Sean Dyche.

The report claims Postecoglou still retains the support of ruthless club owner Evangelos Marinakis, who was the driving force behind his recruitment, but that could change very quickly if he is unable to mastermind a victory over the Blues this weekend.