Nottingham Forest summer signing Xaver Schlager has delivered a raw, unfiltered confession regarding the psychological toll of the Reds’ brutal start to the 2026-27 Premier League season, admitting the lack of early results left him feeling “disheartened” and nearly “worthless” despite working harder than ever on the training pitch.
Prior to Saturday’s sensational 3-1 triumph over Manchester City—which finally lifted Oliver Glasner’s side out of the relegation zone and up to 16th place—Forest endured a miserable five-match winless streak.
Despite repeatedly delivering strong tactical performances under Glasner, individual errors and missed chances robbed the Reds of points, creating intense pressure inside the dressing room.
In a remarkably candid interview with Austrian newspaper The Standard, conducted just before the Manchester City breakthrough, the 29-year-old midfielder pulled back the curtain on the mental grind of fighting for survival in English football.
”Many People Crack”: Schlager Reveals Dressing Room Reality
Having joined Forest on a high-profile free transfer from RB Leipzig over the summer, Schlager immediately became an indispensable engine-room starter, appearing in 11 matches and starting nine of Forest’s first 10 league fixtures.
However, following difficult early outings against Leeds United in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup, the relentless lack of positive results tested the Austrian international’s mental resilience:
“Right now, it’s very disheartening when you invest so much every day and get absolutely no output. You feel kind of – I don’t want to say worthless, but you feel like you didn’t actually have to work at all.
“In the last two or three months, I’ve trained more than I’ve ever trained in my life. I see a steady improvement, and when the results don’t come, it’s very disheartening. That’s the difficult thing about our job. You can’t lose heart.
“It’s a story where consistent work pays off in the long run – but when you’re really stuck in a tough phase, many people crack and give up. We just have to get through it and trust ourselves. I’m convinced that it will come back eventually.”
Schlager’s prophecy came true in spectacular fashion at the City Ground last weekend, where he produced a dominant midfield display to help dismantle Pep Guardiola’s title contenders.
”Just About Making Money”: Schlager Blasts Modern Football Schedule
Beyond Forest’s survival fight, Schlager also launched a blistering critique of modern football’s congested calendar, praising the NFL model while claiming the sheer volume of matches has stripped away the joy of the sport:
- Physical & Mental Exhaustion: Reflecting on his Champions League days and grueling international windows, Schlager noted that players enter matches focused solely on managing pain rather than enjoying the game.
- The NFL Comparison: “I find it nice with the NFL, where the games are concentrated in the fall and winter; you look forward to that every year,” Schlager explained. “The fewer games there are, the more valuable each one is. Now, many games are simply worthless because there are so many. It’s just about making money.”
- Trentside Advantage: Without midweek European commitments at Forest, Schlager admitted he is finally rediscovering his love for the game—allowing him to recover properly and peak for weekly Premier League battles.
Stepping Up With Nicolás Domínguez Sidelined Until 2027
Schlager’s renewed sharpness could not have arrived at a more critical moment for Nottingham Forest.
With fellow midfielder Nicolás Domínguez ruled out for up to eight weeks following a cruel hamstring setback, Glasner will lean heavily on Schlager’s leadership and composure when the Premier League resumes against Bournemouth on November 21st.
If Schlager continues to anchor the central third with the same grit he displayed against Manchester City, Forest’s early-season nightmare will quickly become a distant memory.
