ANGE POSTECOGLOU says he has been surrounded by ‘negativity’ since arriving in the Premier League.
And Nottingham Forest’s new boss claims it is as though his first season at Tottenham — when he led them to finish fifth in 2024 — “doesn’t exist”.
Postecoglou, 60, takes his side to Burnley tomorrow looking for a first win since taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo.
After being beaten in his first game at Arsenal, Big Ange’s boys blew a 2-0 lead at Swansea to lose 3-2 in the Carabao Cup to two stoppage-time goals.
The Forest boss admits his first two results do not look good — but says he is used to being seen in a negative light.
He said: “I’ve no idea why. I’m likeable! There’s been a negativity around my arrival since I came to the Premier League.
“But it’s a curious study in human nature as to why that’s the case.
“I came from Scotland and I get there’s not a great deal of respect given to the game up there.
“But my first year at Tottenham, I went to a club that finished eighth.
“They lost their greatest-ever player in Harry Kane and I got them fifth playing my style of football.
“It would’ve got them to the Champions League any other year.
“But unfortunately, that first year I had somehow doesn’t exist. All that shows was that I finished in a poor position last year — and that my football ‘doesn’t work’.”
Postecoglou was axed by Spurs in June despite Europa League glory after finishing 17th in the Prem.
On his slow start at the City Ground, he added: “It’s been two defeats but I sense progress in the time I’ve been here.”
Forest skipper Morgan Gibbs-White has had a dip in form following a summer in which a move to Spurs fell through.
And ex-Celtic manager Postecoglou added: “I haven’t spoken to Morgan individually yet. But I know he’s very determined to get his form back.
“It’s been disruptive, even though it’s great to go away with England.
“They’re the challenges, I’m sure he’s learned a lot from the off-season — and it’s about how you overcome these things.
“But watching him in training, he’s just keen to get out there.”
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