Oliver Glasner appreciates the importance of the next few weeks as Nottingham Forest aim to hit the ground running when the season begins.
It is why the new head coach put in a special request with those players who have been representing their countries at the World Cup. A “compromise” has been reached with the Reds’ international contingent to return for duty slightly earlier than originally planned.
Glasner is excited at the prospect of working with a talented group after being appointed last week and he wants maximum time to work with them. The majority of players reported for pre-season on Monday, and it seems it won’t be long before the rest of their teammates follow.
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Asked about the prospect of working with the squad, Glasner said in an interview on the club’s YouTube channel: “That’s the exciting part, because it’s now seeing them every single day on the pitch. It’s not just about what they are doing on the pitch, but also about getting to know them as people.
“It’s now about getting to know each other, creating a common way of playing on the pitch that everybody understands. Everybody is different; some learn very quickly, others it takes a little bit longer. That’s why I’m talking about the journey; it starts now.
“I’ve already had a call with the players who have been at the World Cup to see if they could maybe come back a little bit earlier because I want them being integrated. We found good compromises.
“They need and they deserve a break. We found a good compromise that they will return a few days earlier.
“It’s all about being successful. The players want it. All the players now are so ambitious.
“We just support the players. We want to help them become the best version of themselves, but they are the ones who have to do it. Nobody will be taller because we are talking to them, nobody will be quicker, but we want everybody to understand how we want to play and know he can rely on his teammates.
“I want that they feel they can try something. Sometimes, players try to avoid mistakes. No, it’s OK - of course, not too many but don’t be worried about making a mistake. It’s about the reaction and how we deal with it as a team; not blaming somebody but working together to win the ball back, for example. This gives us a good feeling and the spirit we want to create.”
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New Zealand duo Chris Wood and Tyler Bindon, Ivory Coast’s Ibrahim Sangare and Switzerland international Dan Ndoye all competed at the World Cup while Neco Williams was in action for Wales prior to the tournament. Ndoye’s involvement in the competition only ended on Sunday, with defeat to Argentina at the quarter-final stage.
When the players return Trentside, they will do so with Glasner eager for the Reds to find some consistency in the Premier League. Getting back into Europe is the aim and owner Evangelos Marinakis has never hidden his desire for silverware.
Glasner is certain the club is aligned about the road ahead. He said: “I think that’s the most important part. It’s not just in football; when you have a relationship with your wife, it’s important you are going in the same direction otherwise it won’t last for a long time.
“It’s the same when I talk to a club and to the board of the club. It’s fundamental to success that everybody is aligned and everybody has the same vision for the club.
“If I can see and feel this alignment, then it becomes interesting. Now it’s important to fill this with life and to take the right steps.
“Forest are already on a good run and in a good period after getting promoted four years ago - playing in the semi-finals of the Europa League and finishing seventh the season before last. It’s important now to get consistency; not being seventh and then 16th, being a team that plays in the top half of the league.
“We know how competitive the Premier League is; it’s one thing to talk about it but it’s another thing to deliver, but that is what we’ll start on now. We’ll create a common way of playing, a common identity and how we want to deal with each other. I think it is important to create a spirit and a great togetherness within the team and within the club and with the fans.
“It’s very important we have a great atmosphere and a relationship among everybody. This is now the start and if we can build this, I’m pretty sure we will be successful.”
He added of Forest’s stature and rich history: “When I thought about the project and when I had quite intense talks with the owner, it was one of the topics. Two-time European champions - I know it was long ago, but history stays forever and the memories stay forever.
“It is a very traditional club, very historic club, with a fantastic fanbase and a very ambitious owner that wants to take a step forward. All of this, and also the squad looks very interesting, those were the main reasons for me wanting to join Nottingham Forest.”
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