Oliver Glasner has retained the backing of the Nottingham Forest hierarchy after his outspoken criticism of the squad following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Brentford.
Club sources have welcomed the head coach’s determination to arrest Forest’s slump and regard the situation as “business as usual” despite his warning that there would be “no more hugs” for some players.
The defeat in west London left Forest 19th in the Premier League, with Glasner acknowledging that losing four of their last five matches was unacceptable. He has promised changes, with the subject expected to feature prominently when he next speaks to the media on Thursday.
Glasner demands change at Nottingham Forest
Glasner said after the Brentford match: “We have to accept it’s not good enough. If we lose four of the last five games, it’s not good enough. And that’s why for me, it’s now time that we change things, that I change things, and that’s what I will do.”
The Austrian was appointed in the summer after leaving Crystal Palace, with Forest seeking stability following a season in which they went through four different head coaches. He has already had a significant influence away from the pitch, with only three senior players arriving at his insistence during the summer.
Glasner insisted he was not worried about his position and said his commitment was to changing the club from the bottom upwards.
“I have no consequences. I think you see that,” he said. “Nobody needs to have pity with Oliver Glasner or with the manager. If I want, I could start in two weeks somewhere else. I won’t do it.”
He added: “You need to change and rebuild from the bottom to the top. And this is clear for me. And this is what I will do. And without any compromises. Zero. Zero. And if these things don’t work, they will let me know [about my exit].”
Glasner said players and staff had to commit fully to his plans, arguing that Forest’s repeated struggles near the bottom of the Premier League pointed to an underlying pattern.
“Either you buy in where we want to go as a club,” he said. “There is no compromise. Either you buy in or you leave. It’s the only way.”
He also acknowledged that the scale of the rebuilding required had become clearer since taking charge, while stressing that he could not deliver it alone. “It’s not me, no, but we’re all together and can do it,” Glasner said.
