Steve Cooper gives insight into managing Nottingham…

Steve Cooper gives insight into managing Nottingham Forest squad as key quality highlighted

Head coach Steve Cooper underlined the sense of unity at Nottingham Forest as he praised the attitude of his squad ahead of their final two games.

At a time of the season where individual circumstances can sometimes come to the fore ahead of the summer transfer window, the Reds are very much focused on the bigger picture. The players’ personal situations come second to the greater good as Forest fight for survival.

Even in difficult times, a sense of togetherness has characterised the club’s season - perhaps to the surprise of some pundits - following the squad overhaul which took place after promotion was achieved. And Cooper has stressed that quality is more important than ever ahead of today’s clash with Arsenal.

“People are putting their personal situations - even if they are in the team - behind what is right for the club and the greater good for the team,” he said. "I think that’s been a big part of our culture this year, because we’ve had to deal with a lot - and some individuals have had to deal with a lot as well.

“It could have been a lot more difficult for me to manage, with what some players have been through this year in terms of game time, selection, injuries etc. They have been a very, very good group of lads to manage.

“Don’t get me wrong, there’s always ups and downs, but the overriding feeling has been one of togetherness and support for each other, regardless of individual situations. That’s testament to the guys, particularly as - especially at the start of the season - they were a group of players who didn’t really know each other, not just as footballers but as people as well. So for them to be like that with each other and to see the strong bond they have now, it’s great testament to them.

“You need everything in your team. There’s the younger guys with the youthfulness and the freedom in their minds of being who they are and who they want to be, and then there’s the older heads. You need everything from one to the other and in between. I think we do have that.

“What we do as a group of staff is encourage players to be who they are and offer whatever they have to the rest of the group. We have good examples of that all throughout the squad.

"What the players have given myself and the staff is a reassuring attitude, because they’ve always been pretty level throughout the season. There’s been some phases where we have picked up points and things have been going well, and we’ve also definitely had the opposite of that as well, but I’ve always seen the same set of lads come through the door with the same application in training.

"That sometimes can be one of the hardest things to manage; a team that can get a little bit complacent and carried away with themselves and a team that does the opposite can be demotivated and lacking in confidence. But through the journey so far, I’ve seen a real level set of lads in terms of their application, their approach and their attitude. That’s been reassuring and has given us as staff confidence, knowing we can carry on with our work and carry on with our beliefs, hoping you can get what you want at the end of the season."

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