Headline: Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner Seeks Balance of Trust and Performance Amid Struggles
Oliver Glasner has emphasized that his struggling Nottingham Forest squad cannot solely rely on “flower power” as he works to establish a foundation of trust and respect within the team. Currently positioned 19th in the Premier League, Forest remains winless and goalless at home in the top flight.
Following last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Brentford, Glasner acknowledged that this marked the fourth loss in five matches. Since arriving in the summer, Glasner has asserted that there would be no more compromises regarding his standards.
“These are my two values I will never negotiate about, this is trust and respect,” Glasner stated. He noted that the absence of either one could lead to dysfunction. “If it’s just respect, I would say that’s military. Then, after a few months of national service, you are pleased when you can leave,” he explained. Conversely, Glasner described a scenario where “just trust” results in a lack of structure, referring to it as a “flower power” approach reminiscent of Woodstock, which he views as inadequate for achieving high performance.
“Military is [high performance], to be honest, because otherwise, this huge organization couldn’t work, and I felt we had too much Woodstock,” he remarked. Glasner is advocating for a balanced environment that combines enjoyment with a high-performance standard, stating that achieving high performance is essential as it defines their professional responsibilities.
When questioned by BBC Sport about whether he should have communicated his expectations to the players sooner, Glasner reflected, “I always ask myself this question – should I have done it earlier?” He admitted there were instances when he hesitated to address the issues but ultimately recognized the need to address them before they worsened.
Despite the team’s struggles, Glasner is not facing immediate pressure, remaining in close touch with the Nottingham Forest hierarchy, which seeks stability following a tumultuous season with four different managers. The 52-year-old has fostered a positive rapport through his work and methods, although he has encountered some discontent among players who aren’t getting game time. Nevertheless, he aims to maintain a calm atmosphere.
Glasner commented on the importance of ongoing communication, saying, “I’m always in contact with the ownership. It’s not always Mr. [Evangelos] Marinakis because he has other stuff to do, but there is his son [Miltiadis], George [Syrianos, chief football officer] and Pedro [Ferreira, technical director] here at the training ground, and Theodore [Giannikos] the CEO.”
He expressed his commitment to the club’s success, indicating, “I never say what’s best for Oliver Glasner, because I don’t feel important. I will always say what I believe is best for Nottingham Forest, for the club.” Glasner concluded with honesty regarding his current results: “My addiction is to succeed with Nottingham Forest and, right now, I have failed. Then I get really upset with myself because I want to meet the expectations of the players, owner, and the fans. Right now, I’ve failed and that’s why I blame myself most.”
