Nottingham Forest are ‘at base camp’ under Oliver Glasner
Nottingham Forest have begun life under new head coach Oliver Glasner with a 12-day pre-season camp in Portugal that has laid early foundations for the climb ahead. The Reds sit 16th in the Premier League with 44 points from last season’s 38 games, recent form DLDWW, and Glasner insists the focus must stay on the next step.
Glasner, who arrived at Trentside fresh from his time in Austria, has used the Algarve heat to drill his ideas into the squad. He wants his players to grasp the habits he demands before they chase the view from the summit. “When we started, we told the players: ‘If you want to climb a mountain, it doesn’t make sense to talk about how lovely it is when you are at the top,’” Glasner said. “Now it’s really about taking it step by step. There will be some stones on the way, so we have to stick together and we have to work.”
How pre-season is shaping Forest’s identity
Forest’s first two friendlies saw early signs of Glasner’s imprint. The two goals against Notts County came from moves drilled in training, while Jair Cunha’s driving run set up Igor Jesus’ opener against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday. Glasner was vocal on the touchline in the midday Portuguese sun, barking instructions and singling out Ola Aina for extra attention. Even in friendlies, the work now can pay dividends later.
Defensively, Glasner sees the biggest room for growth. Forest kept two clean sheets and conceded few chances, but the boss wants more than that. “Honestly, I think this is where we have most of our work to do still,” he said after the 3-0 win over Rovers. “The habits. Nobody is to blame for this because we have had only one-and-a-half training sessions and a very long video meeting showing them what we want to do.”
Glasner’s man-management: players and processes
Glasner’s opening week was spent getting to know his players off the pitch as well as on. He arrived with a clear picture of the squad’s make-up but wanted deeper personal bonds to shape how they play. The squad now understands what he expects and how they must defend. Glasner’s video sessions and on-field drills are already translating into patterns that showed in the friendlies.
The Austrian’s animated touchline presence reflects his demand for intensity. He wants consistency drilled into every action so the team falls back less into old habits. “Let’s say 60 per cent of the situations we are doing well, but then we fall back into other habits,” he said. “It’s now working on consistency - showing them and training, and showing them and training so they get used to what we want them to do.”
What comes next for Forest after Portugal
Forest’s next fixture is at home to Coventry on September 19, but Glasner’s immediate focus is tightening the squad’s defensive habits before the league curtain rises. The Reds conceded 51 goals last season and finished 16th with 44 points, 41 behind Arsenal. Glasner’s message is clear: keep climbing, one step at a time.
