Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou is calling for his players to show more composure and control after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Swansea City in the Carabao Cup. Despite taking a 2-0 lead, Forest conceded twice in stoppage time, leaving Postecoglou frustrated with his team’s lack of calmness under pressure.
Postecoglou’s Reaction
Postecoglou expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, saying, “It was a game we were well in control of, and we should have seen it out a lot better than we did.” He emphasized the need for “calmer heads” and more clinical decision-making, both in attack and defense. The Australian manager believes that his team’s complacency was a major factor in their downfall.
Key Issues
Forest’s inability to see out the win, despite making four substitutions, raised concerns about their fitness and mental toughness. The team has now conceded three goals in each of their last two games, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities. Postecoglou acknowledged that some of his players were still getting back to full fitness, but he felt that this should not have affected their ability to hold onto a two-goal lead.
Next Steps
Forest faces a tough trip to Burnley on Saturday, where Postecoglou hopes his team will bounce back with a more controlled performance. The Australian manager knows that his team needs to quickly respond to the defeat and show more resilience in the face of adversity. With a busy schedule ahead, Forest will need to be at their best to achieve their goals.
Acknowledging the Fans
After the game, Postecoglou walked over to the away end and appeared to be pointing to himself. However, he insisted that there was no meaning behind the gesture and that he simply wanted to acknowledge the supporters who had made the long trip. “I was just acknowledging the fans,” he said. “We put them through a tough night, so I was just acknowledging the fans.” This gesture shows that Postecoglou values the support of the fans and is committed to delivering better results for them [1].
