New manager vows fans will begin to see “some real principles being embedded” by next week
Ange Postecoglou admitted his Nottingham Forest side were well short of the level required after a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in his first match in charge, but insisted his ideas will take hold quickly.
Forest were underwhelming at the Emirates, their best spell coming only in a short period near halftime in a game Arsenal completely dominated. Postecoglou, who was appointed last week following the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo, said the players were unsettled and refused to criticise their effort.
“It is no secret it has been a very disruptive week for the players,” said Postecoglou. “Seven days ago their world was totally different from what it is today and you’ve got to understand that, I certainly do.
“I can’t fault the players’ endeavour and effort. I thought we hung in there.
“We never really had control of the game at any point but we worked really hard in the first half and there were small seeds towards the end of the first half of us maybe being able to cause them some problems. But the second goal straight after half-time killed the game.
“You can’t accept defeat and you’ve got to be disappointed by it but in the context of what the week has been like, I can’t fault the players in terms of what they were trying to do.”
The loss leaves Forest with two defeats and only one win in four. With the games to come thick and fast over the coming weeks, Postecoglou stressed that he needs to get his squad performing as quickly as possible.
“I can’t afford to waste time,” said Postecoglou. “This is not a project. This football club had a strong season last year, needs to be stronger this year and my job is to get us where I want us as quickly as possible.
“So by Wednesday night we will start seeing some real principles being embedded. It won’t take long and I am not going to let it take long.
“I’ll make sure we turn it around because we have got an unbelievable opportunity this year to make an impact and I’m not going to let that slip.”
