Ange Postecoglou’s Treatment of Nottingham Forest Ace Could Get Him Sacked

Ange Postecoglou’s Treatment of Nottingham Forest Ace Could Get Him Sacked

Eyebrows were raised when Nottingham Forest decided to dismiss Nuno Esperito Santo and replace him with Ange Postecoglou so early into the 2025/26 campaign. The former had done incredible work with the midlands side, guiding them to European football, but due to issues with club owner, Evangelos Marinakis, he was let go after just three league games.

The club then made the move to hire Postecoglou, who had recently been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur, despite guiding them to the Europa League trophy, their first piece of silverware in 17 years, last season. The appointment was frowned upon by some fans, considering the manager had finished 17th in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur last year and it seems as though he’s brought some of the problems that plagued his time with Spurs to Forest.

Postecoglou Rushed Murillo Back From Injury

During his time with Tottenham, Postecoglou had to deal with a ruthless amount of injuries. His team was stripped to the bare bones at times, with multiple players on the shelf. Some considered him responsible for the amount of injuries his side picked up, blaming him rushing players back onto the pitch before they were necessarily ready and it cost them.

He doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson, though, and during Forest’s 3-2 loss to FC Midtjylland on Thursday night, it came back to haunt him again. During the Europa League match, he made the decision to start centre-back Murillo, despite the defender having not featured in a game since September 13. The Brazillian has been dealing with an injury, but Postecoglou decided to play him right from the off against FC Midtjylland and it didn’t go well. Murillo clearly wasn’t ready to return and he lasted just 28 minutes before he had to be replaced. Now, Postecoglou could face even longer without the star.

Like so many times at Tottenham, he didn’t exercise caution when dealing with an injury to one of his key players and it’s cost him. It could even cost him his job if Forest’s form doesn’t improve. Fans of the club have already grown frustrated with him and especially with how he treated Murillo.

Taking to X (Twitter), one supporter blasted Postecoglou and said: “Ange has just done a Romero and VDV on Murillo. Seasons over till they sack Ange. This is a disgrace,” another fan shared that sentiment, posting: “Bad half, more annoyed at the players than Ange, he can’t defend those goals for them, shocking defending and a lucky flick for the first, definitely annoyed at him for playing Murillo. Didn’t seem ready from the start.”