Nottingham Forest Dressing Room's Feelings Emerge After Postecoglou Sacking

Nottingham Forest’s squad’s honest feelings about now-former head coach Ange Postecoglou have emerged following his sacking.

Just minutes after Forest’s 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday, Postecoglou was relieved of his duties, having failed to win a single game in eight matches since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground last month.

The writing appeared to be on the wall even before Forest’s latest failure with Ange delivering an explosive press conference earlier this week, during which he claimed “the story always ends the same… me with a trophy”.

Strikes from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James sealed Ange’s fate and brought what was the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history to a close, with the Australian lasting just 40 days.

As ever, several potential successors have been put forward, with Sean Dyche appearing to be the favourite to take on the now-vacant role.

Ange Postecoglou has been sacked (Credit:Getty)

But where did it all go so wrong for Postecoglou in such a short space of time?

A report from the Mail suggests that some players were ‘excited’ by Ange’s methods and ethos of playing in a free-flowing attacking style, while others ‘raised a few eyebrows’ as the Australian’s sessions were more intense than Nuno’s.

It is also claimed that Postecoglou was ‘dismissive’ of the squad’s achievements last season, with Forest finishing seventh and qualifying for European competition. The Reds also reached the FA Cup semi-finals under Nuno in 2024/25.

Cracks started to appear in Ange’s second game in charge when Forest fell to a 3-2 defeat against Championship side Swansea City, who scored twice in stoppage time in the Carabao Cup clash, which resulted in the former Spurs boss tearing into his players in the away dressing room.

Nottingham Forest lost 3-0 against Chelsea (Credit:Getty)

The Mail also suggests that there have been doubts about key man Morgan Gibbs-White’s mindset following links with a summer transfer to Manchester City and Spurs – although he did pen a new three-year contract at the club in July.

And to add salt to the wounds of the departing Postecoglou, centre-back Murillo even liked Forest’s official statement confirming the 60-year-old’s sacking.

A report from The Guardian explains that the coach was informed of his sacking just minutes after the Chelsea match before he then said his goodbyes to the players, wishing them good luck for the future.

While TNT Sports reporter Jules Breach explained that Ange left on his own with a bag on his back.

Breach said: "From what we saw down in the tunnel, prior to that interview happening, Ange Postecoglou went into the home dressing room, spoke to the players and then actually went down to the other side of the tunnel area. We saw him come out of there and Edu was also in the corridor at that time.

"Ange Postecoglou left with a bag on his back and went out towards the car park. At that point, it seemed the writing was on the wall but it wasn't until a few minutes later when the news was confirmed. Ange Postecoglou's backroom staff are still here, as far as we are aware, Ange Postecoglou has already left the stadium."

More will, no doubt, come about Postecoglou’s short time at Forest, but for now one thing is for sure: he will not look back on his time in Nottingham with fondness.