Ange Postecoglou admits he knew Spurs would sack him before Europa League win

Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou has admitted that he knew Tottenham Hotspur would sack him even before playing the Europa League final against Manchester United. However, he said that the fact Spurs supporters wanted to meet and hug him showed that he had succeeded at the North London club.

Postecoglou made these remarks during his unveiling as the new Nottingham Forest manager. "We won it, we had the parade, so it was a great three days and I didn't want it to tarnish that. After that I kind of knew it was done. It wasn't great, I knew it was coming a fair way before the Europa League final," he said. "It's allowed me to move into this and maybe these things happen for a reason."

He reflected on his time at Tottenham, adding: "What I do know is I had two years where it was very, very challenging but I worked with some fantastic people in the football department the supporters we put them through some tough times but there isn't a Spurs supporter that I don't come across now that doesn't want to hug me and take me home for dinner, so I must have done something right. Ultimately, I think that's what we do it for. It will always take a special place in my heart."

Postecoglou has said that his first task at Forest is to win the backing of the supporters, particularly given the popularity of his predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno led Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing European football for the first time since 1995-96. Postecoglou will also have to convince fans who may be wary after Tottenham's disappointing league campaign.

"They are not going to love me from the first day, I've got to earn their respect. It's a unique club where if you get that momentum, great things can happen," he said. "Hopefully I can bring some special times to this club."

"I do like my teams to play exciting football and score goals. I want fans to be excited," he added. "But it is all with the end goal of winning football games."

Postecoglou faces a tough start at Arsenal. "It is what it is," he said. "First four games are away so I got a good look at the stadium today. Every Premier League fixture is challenging. It's a great game."