Ange Postecoglou was loving life at Celtic and enjoying continued trophy success.
But life in the English Premier League has proven to be far different and more difficult for the Celtic hero, including at his latest club, Nottingham Forest.
After Tottenham sacked Postecoglou in the summer, weeks after winning the Europa League, it wasn’t too long before he was back in the dugout.
Forest sacked the popular Nuno Espirito Santo after he had a falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis, and now everything is seemingly coming tumbling down.
Amid the chaos and calls for Postecoglou to be sacked, Wayne Rooney is loving the fight from the former Hoops man.
What has Ange Postecoglou said amid Nottingham Forest’s struggles?
One of the things Celtic fans loved about Postecoglou was how he would handle the media and his numerous quotable pressers.
To nobody’s surprise, that is continuing in the colours of Forest, and after their defeat to Newcastle United over the weekend.
This was Postecoglou’s brilliant exchange and put-down of a journalist, who asked a rather daft question after he went six games without a win since being appointed.
Ange was asked in his presser, ‘if you are given time, will you change this situation around?’
“No, no, it’s a lost cause,” responded Postecoglou. “I mean, seriously, what’s wrong with something being hard? Seriously? What’s wrong with that?
“Why does everything have to be so? Why do we want everything delivered nicely packaged? I am sure your parents had a struggle in their lives, right?! And they didn’t give up.
“You may have been a lost cause at some point, but they didn’t give up on you, right? What I am saying is, I am not having a go at you, please. Don’t take it that way. It seems to be these days that, as soon as something goes wrong, well, that’s it. It’s wrong. We’ll change it. Break it up.
“Everything that needs something fixed is invariably going to go through a tough time. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for me, as I said.”
Wayne Rooney hails Celtic hero Postecoglou despite Forest fire
Those comments from Postecoglou were lauded by Rooney, who has had his own troubles in the dugout of late, including most recently at English Championship sides Plymouth and Birmingham City.
Whilst the Manchester United legend understands the ‘pressure’ on his shoulders, especially from the Forest fans, he thinks it was ‘real class’ as to how he is handling it all.
“I saw his interview, and I thought it was real class interview,” said Rooney. “I like Ange. I think he speaks well. He is honest.
“But again, like Russell Martin, if the results don’t come, the Forest fans don’t seem to have taken to him, and that can bring pressure.”
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