Ange Postecoglou comes out fighting as he launches a staunch defence of his record, claiming that he 'doesn't fit here' and 'the story always ends with a trophy' - before under-pressure boss accuses critics of SMIRKING at him

Ange Postecoglou has launched a staunch defence of his record amid major scrutiny on his role as Nottingham Forest manager.

Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground during the September international break but he has failed to win any of his seven games in charge so far.

This has seen the former Tottenham boss come under pressure and he was the subject of 'sacked in the morning' chants from Forest fans during their 3-2 defeat by FC Midtjylland earlier this month.

Reports over the past week also suggested that Sean Dyche had been sounded out to replace Postecoglou, while the Australian didn't hold talks with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over the international break despite saying he expected to do so after their latest loss by Newcastle.

And, in a memorable pre-match press conference ahead of Forest's clash against Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, Postecoglou hit back at his critics.

'I guess from my perspective, I just don't fit,' he said. 'Not [talking about] here. Just in general. If you look at it through the prism of: I'm a failed manager who is lucky to get this job - I know you're smirking at me and that's what's being said and I can find the print where that's being said - then of course it looks like this manager is under pressure.

Under-pressure Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has defended his coaching record

Postecoglou has failed to win any of his seven games in charge so far since arriving last month

'There is an alternative story. I came to the Premier League two years ago, I took over Tottenham - "Spursy Tottenham". I was told by the chairman at the time: "This club has to win a trophy. We've tried to bring winners in, Jose [Mourinho] and Antonio [Conte] and it hasn't worked, we need something different."

'I was slightly offended by that as I see myself as a winner. I took over Spurs who finished eighth. No European football. Massive club who can't have two years without European football. We finished fifth in my first year. And every time Harry Kane scores a goal, I wish he'd just stayed one more year. It would have been handy to have him after finishing fifth.

Postecoglou continued: 'But somehow that year has disappeared from the record books. In fact it was used as a reason for me losing my job because even Tottenham decided to exclude the first 10 games because they were an anomaly apparently. Although the first 10 games here are very important apparently.

'We finished fifth, I got them back into European football where Tottenham should be. I was in meetings and people still at that club were in those meetings where I was told winning a trophy is everything for a football club. That's fine.

'We win a trophy. We shed the tag of being "Spursy". It's Champions League football which brings some rewards, the opportunity to bring in better players. But all I've heard since I finished at Tottenham is I finished 17th last year.'

Postecoglou, who has won trophies during his managerial career at South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F. Marinos, Celtic and Spurs, went on to reveal that he wasn't bothered about the noise and is focused on the long-term plan at Forest.

He added: 'So we get to the current space where there's a different story to tell that maybe I'm maybe not a failed manager who was lucky to get this job - but maybe I'm a manager where if given time, the story always ends the same. At all my previous clubs it ends the same: me with a trophy.

'I am trying to change the way we play. The players are adapting but there's been inconsistency in there for sure. But some will look at the weeds, I will look at what's growing.

'The flip side is I'm really still excited about the opportunity here. That's how I'm embracing it. I have a group of young players who are willing to change, that's the first thing. I'm heading down that road.

'The rest of it? I'm not going to waste my time or my energy worrying about that. Whether it's internal or external I couldn't care less. At the end of the day, I will do what I think is the right thing to do to bring success to this football club and that's what I'm focused on.'