Ange Postecolou confident results will come at Nottingham Forest

Ange Postecoglou says he is confident “results will come” as he attempts to guide Nottingham Forest to a first win under his stewardship.

European football returns to the City Ground for the first time in three decades on Thursday night when Forest meet Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Postecoglou, who took over as manager last month following the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo, has yet to preside over a victory after his first five games in charge, but insists his team are “dominating in every aspect”.

What did Ange Postecoglou say about Nottingham Forest ‘dominating’?

“I think [a win] would be helpful, but for me it’s about the players,” said the 60-year-old. “They’ve embraced what we are trying to do. Since I’ve come in we are doing things differently, and the players have bought into it.

“But I want them to get the rewards for it as well. They are working awfully hard. In every physical metric we have, they are producing their best performances. 

“We are creating more chances than the opposition, dominating in every aspect, but we aren’t winning. “We want the players to feel the reward of that, because it accelerates growth and belief. It’s not about going away from what we’ve been doing, that’s for sure.”

Nottingham Forest’s European pedigree

Postecoglou is strongly aware of the club’s European pedigree and talked before last month’s 2-2 draw at Real Betis of the excitement around Forest at the prospect of returning to continental competition. 

It was a theme to which the Australian returned on the eve of Midtjylland’s visit as he paid tribute to the role of his predecessors in revitalising the two-time European Cup winners.

Ange Postecoglou says he is ‘privileged’ to lead Forest back into Europe

“I’m really privileged,” said Postecoglou. “That’s on the back of the work of guys like [former manager Steve Cooper] and Nuno, that have got us to this point. I’m the beneficiary of that, and I don’t take that lightly. 

“It is a privilege, but it’s one I’m looking forward to – the responsibility of leading the club back into Europe for the first time in 30 years and hopefully making it a campaign to remember. 

“More importantly, it’s something this football club wants to do on a regular basis, every season. The European nights are always special. On the back of a 30-year absence, I’ve got a feeling it is going to be one of those nights.”