​The dawn of a brand-new era at the City Ground did not quite go according to script. Following Nottingham Forest’s heartbreaking, late 1-0 defeat to a resilient Leeds United side on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, new head coach Oliver Glasner faced the media with a refreshingly candid, honest assessment of his team’s performance.

​Despite the bitter pill of conceding a decisive 88th-minute free-kick to Leeds midfielder Anton Stach, Glasner refused to panic, emphasizing that building a competitive juggernaut is a gradual process rather than an overnight miracle.

​”There Is No Button to Press”

​Speaking to reporters after the match, the Austrian manager made it crystal clear that turning Forest into his ideal vision requires patience, hard work, and steady persistence from everyone involved at the club.

​“There is no button to press,” Glasner stated bluntly when asked about implementing his tactical philosophy. “It is getting confidence in what we are doing. We still have a lot of things to do. I could see a lot of encouraging things, but it is a process. You always have to respect the opposition, and the opposition was very physical and strong.”

​Acknowledging the sky-high expectations surrounding his arrival, Glasner humorously dismissed the notion that success happens instantly.

​“It was pretty clear that I can’t come with my staff and we lay the hands on the players’ shoulders, and all of a sudden we play like Real Madrid in the 70s or whatever. That was clear.”

​Despite the frustrating result, the Forest boss took plenty of positives from how his squad fought back after a sluggish start, praising their second-half application and insisting there is no reason for panic or despair.

​The Decisive Battle: Set-Pieces and Final Third Urgency

​Heading into the match, Glasner had explicitly warned his squad that set-pieces would serve as the ultimate battleground against a notoriously physical Leeds outfit. Unfortunately, his pre-match prediction proved prophetic when Stach’s late, pinpoint free-kick sailed past Matz Sels to snatch all three points for the visitors.

​Reflecting on the match-defining moment, Glasner noted:

​“I think we did enough to win, but everyone felt one situation would decide the game. I told the players whoever wins the set-piece battle wins the game. Unfortunately, one set-piece on Leeds’ side wins it for them. If you make mistakes in the Premier League, you get punished.”

​The manager also pointed out that while Forest settled into a rhythm after a difficult opening 15 to 20 minutes, they lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third to break the deadlock.

​“It took us 15 or 20 minutes to get into the game. We moved the ball quick and did better and better. This is nothing to do with the system, it is just what you have to do. When we enter the final third, we have to be more direct in the box.”

​Looking Ahead: No Time to Bury Heads

​Rather than dwelling on a harsh opening-day setback, Glasner views the defeat as invaluable feedback for his squad as they adjust to the rigors of the new season.

​Describing the fixture as a “typical first Premier League game after a long break,” the manager stressed that the dressing room must keep their heads held high, learn from their mistakes, and immediately pivot their focus toward upcoming improvements.

​While the start of the Glasner era didn’t feature the dream victory home supporters craved, the manager’s pragmatic leadership and clear-eyed realism suggest that Nottingham Forest are in steady hands as they navigate the long, grueling campaign ahead!