‘I love winning’: Ange’s promise to Forest fans in first interview... and what’s been ‘misconstrued’

In his first interview as Nottingham Forest manager, Ange Postecoglou has vowed to return the club to its “rightful place” in English football, reminding fans that he “loves winning things”.

Four months after his departure from Tottenham, the Australian was appointed by the English Midlands outfit as the successor for Nuno Espírito Santo, who became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season following a dispute with club owner and Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis.

Despite ending Spurs’ 17-year wait to win a trophy, Postecoglou himself was sacked by Tottenham just days after winning the Europa League, dismissed due to Tottenham suffering its worst Premier League season since 1976/77.

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Speaking to the Nottingham Forest following his appointment, Postecoglou declared: “I love winning. I love winning things. It’s what I’ve done.”

“I like the fans to be excited about watching the team play. There’s already an existing mentality within the group here of working hard for one another, and I want to tap into that,” he continued.

“It’s about now implementing my own ideas. I love my teams to attack. I love my teams to score goals. That’s sometimes misconstrued as me just playing one way. But the reason I want my team to play that way is because I love winning things – and that’s what I want to do here.”

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Nottingham Forest are two-time European Cup winners with triumphs in 1979 and 1980. The club finished seventh on the Premier League standings last season, also earning qualification for the Europa League.

“When you look at what the club has achieved in recent times, it’s an outstanding feat to be where we are right now,” Postecoglou continued.

“Other clubs that have won promotion have struggled to stay in the league, but in a short space of time we’re back in Europe and competing for honours, which is a great credit to everyone involved.

“I get a sense that the club wants more and that’s certainly what I want, so I think it’s a really exciting time. I’m honoured and I’m humbled, but more importantly I’m determined to make sure this football club takes its rightful place.

“It’s a fantastic football club with great history and, even in recent times, it has done really well. You bear that responsibility, but I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it and I’m really happy to be here.”

He added: “This football club hasn’t been in Europe for a very long time, but it’s got a couple of stars on its chest that show it’s got rich history, and I’m sure the fans will be looking forward to it as well.”

Elsewhere, Marinakis backed Postecoglou to continue his record of winning trophies at Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos and during his spell in charge of Australia.

“We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies,” Marinakis said.

“His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.”

He continued: “After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies.

“Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.”

Forest currently sit tenth on the Premier League standings with four points after three games. They will next face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday at 9.30pm AEST.

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