One of the finest midfielders of his generation has just made a genuinely eyebrow-raising claim about Forest’s Premier League prospects — and it flies in the face of their winless start to the season
Toni Kroos has never been shy about sharing his opinions on football, and his latest comments are guaranteed to leave Nottingham Forest supporters doing a double take.
A Tough Start Makes the Claim Even More Surprising
Forest have endured a difficult opening to the season, losing on the opening day against Leeds before following it up with home draws against Liverpool and Tottenham. While there have been flashes of promise, both home fixtures have been largely underwhelming to watch, and it’s clear Oliver Glasner still has plenty of work to do to get his system firing at the City Ground.
Despite all of that, Kroos has delivered a genuinely stunning verdict on where he thinks Forest will finish this season — and it’s turning heads.
Kroos’s Bold Top-Five Prediction
Speaking on Luppen TV via TikTok, the German football icon explained his reasoning for backing Forest to break into the Premier League’s elite, largely based on his admiration for Glasner’s managerial ability:
“In recent years I’ve had Manchester United perhaps not in there, Chelsea haven’t always been in the top five either, that has to be said, and United even less so. United were fighting around 16th with Tottenham. And I mean really fighting. And Tottenham are now fighting for that again too.
“I’d put Nottingham Forest in there instead, because I’m a big fan of Glasner.”
Kroos then laid out his full top-five prediction:
- Manchester City
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Chelsea
- Nottingham Forest
With Manchester United notably left outside his top five entirely — a bold call given their usual status as title contenders.
Why Kroos Rates Glasner So Highly
It’s clear from his comments that Kroos’s prediction isn’t really about Forest’s current squad or form — it’s a vote of confidence specifically in Glasner as a coach. The Austrian’s reputation clearly extends well beyond English football circles, with Kroos essentially betting that Glasner’s methods will eventually transform Forest into genuine top-five contenders.
The Reality Check
Of course, turning that prediction into reality is another matter entirely. Glasner still needs results, and fast — with Forest needing at least one win from their upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and Coventry before the international break to ease growing pressure.
The Reds are also still adapting to a new tactical system under their new manager, which naturally takes time to bed in. Realistically, a fifth-placed finish looks like an extremely tall order given where Forest currently sit.
What This Means for Forest Fans
Whether or not Kroos’s prediction proves remotely accurate, the fact that a player of his stature is publicly backing Glasner will offer Forest supporters some reassurance during a difficult opening spell. Sometimes, an outside endorsement from someone with genuine football pedigree carries real weight — even if the numbers don’t back it up just yet.
