adminNottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner is hoping the upcoming international break will give his squad an opportunity to put their disappointing Premier League defeat to Coventry City behind them.
Forest suffered a 1-0 home defeat against the newly promoted side at the City Ground on Saturday, September 19, with Jay Dasilva scoring the decisive goal. The result handed Coventry their first Premier League points of the campaign.
The defeat continued Forest’s inconsistent start under Glasner. After five league matches, Forest have recorded one victory, two draws and two defeats, leaving them 12th in the Premier League table heading into the September/October international break.
Shearer acknowledged that the international break presents both challenges and opportunities. With several players expected to leave for international duty, the Forest boss will have a reduced squad available for training.
However, he believes the break can also help his players mentally recover from the Coventry setback while allowing those who remain at the club to work on specific areas of their game.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Glasner explained that around half of his squad would remain at the training ground during the international period.
He said the players would return at different times before Forest’s next fixture against Crystal Palace, meaning the coaching staff will have to manage the squad carefully.
Glasner also stressed the importance of moving on from the disappointment rather than allowing the defeat to dominate the players’ thoughts.
“It’s important to switch off and get this disappointment out of our mind,” the Forest manager said.
The defeat will nevertheless give Forest plenty to consider. Coventry arrived at the City Ground without a point from their opening league matches but managed to leave with all three points after a disciplined performance.
For Shearer, the immediate task is to ensure the setback does not affect the team’s confidence as they prepare for the next phase of the season.
The international break should provide an opportunity for Forest’s coaching staff to analyse the performance, work with the players who remain at the club and prepare for the return of those representing their countries.
Shearer will then hope his squad can respond positively when Premier League action resumes, with Crystal Palace awaiting Forest in their next league fixture.
The Forest manager’s message is therefore clear: the Coventry defeat is a setback, but the team must use the international break to reset, regroup and return with renewed focus.
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