COOPER: “WE HAVE REAL COMPETITION FOR PLACES”
As Forest prepare to return to Premier League action on Monday night, Steve Cooper says he is looking forward to integrating new players into his side.
The Reds went into the international break with a 1-0 win against Chelsea and will be back in action when Burnley visits The City Ground for the second time this season.
Cooper met with the media before of Monday’s encounter to address a variety of topics following the break and the close of the transfer window…
Regarding the incorporation of new players into the squad…
“There is no doubt that it is a process.
“We learned that last season when we had to go through the process of becoming a team, then it was similar when we picked up all the injuries in the second half of the season and had to reset.”
“When you bring some players in terms of integration into the team, it’s definitely a balancing act, and hopefully we can get that balancing right.”
“Some have played a lot of games, while others haven’t, so there’s a lot of individual context, and it’s something we’re really looking forward to.”
Concerning the fight for positions…
Regarding the incorporation of new players into the squad…
“There is no doubt that it is a process.
“We learned that last season when we had to go through the process of becoming a team, then it was similar when we picked up all the injuries in the second half of the season and had to reset.”
“When you bring some players in terms of integration into the team, it’s definitely a balancing act, and hopefully we can get that balancing right.”
“Some have played a lot of games, while others haven’t, so there’s a lot of individual context, and it’s something we’re really looking forward to.”
Concerning the fight for positions…
“It’s a competitive group now; there’s depth and real competition for places, which is what we want from the goalkeeper to the top players.”
“That’s the kind of culture you want, where players must work hard to make the next team.”
Regarding Ibrahim Sangaré…
“We just saw him train for the first time today, having just returned from international duty, so it’s nice to meet him properly.”
“We are excited to work with him; he has undeniable talent and fits the profile of the midfielder we were looking for.”
“It’s been a long process getting him here, but we’re thrilled he chose us over so many other clubs and players.”
“We didn’t cover ourselves in glory last time out against Burnley and I didn’t enjoy the performance one bit, so there’s always bits to learn from.
“Sometimes the best way to learn is through the bad games and the tough moments and that certainly wasn’t one we did well in at all.
“Whether that has an impact on Monday, I’m not too sure. We’ll just be focusing on ourselves and how we commit to the plan that we feel will be the right one for the game. If we do that, then we give ourselves a good chance of picking up the result we want.”
