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The Australian manager is set to persuade the club's directors to keep confidence in his managerial philosophy when he meets with the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis this week.

Resolute Forest boss detects positive indicators during poor results

The former Tottenham manager was in unbowed, almost jocular form after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It extended his run without a win to seven matches since he replaced Nuno Espírito Santo recently. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a five-man defense, identified indications of improvement as he gets ready for crucial discussions with club officials.

"Indeed, it’s a lost cause," he said, sarcastically. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. One must be up for the fight and the challenge. It would be foolish to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I was without self-belief or fight. Back in the playground I chose battles with people that defeated me."

Top flight pantomime gently mocked

Expanding on his point, Postecoglou gently mocked the drama of English top division that typically requires that at least one manager is always considered 'in trouble'. "I get that it’s part of the fanfare of the Premier League that it needs a coach to be in the spotlight. If people want to assess me three and a half weeks into the role, there's nothing I can say or do that will change that."

"But what I have seen and felt in this period is that we are moving in the path I want us to. Positive outcomes will come. In the meantime it is a struggle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things provided easily without effort in life, we have to work hard. I have fought for things throughout my career. Why does everyone want everything neatly packaged? The attitude nowadays appears that, as quickly as something goes wrong, you replace it."

Accepting the challenge at Nottingham Forest

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

The manager then restated that he had joined the City Ground with his eyes wide open and always understood that his attempt to alter Forest’s playing style would not be easy. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I don't know why people think challenges are a problem, I enjoy a test. The other option is staying home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun around it I am unconcerned. I couldn't care less."