​BBC Radio Nottingham’s Colin Fray said he was impressed by Oliver Glasner, noting that he looked very comfortable with the press during his unveiling as the new Nottingham Forest manager. Glasner spent more than an hour with the media on Thursday, answering questions about his ambitions, his playing philosophy, and how to handle potential controversy surrounding his departure from Crystal Palace, a topic that has been heightened by the recent rivalry between the two clubs.
Fray described Glasner as eloquent and clearly happy to be in place, pointing to the numerous big, beaming smiles and light-hearted moments in the press conference, alongside plenty of serious discussion. Glasner did not make grand promises, Fray observed, but spoke about building solid foundations for the club.
Forest fans have heard many first-day interview promises from managers over the past decade, Fray acknowledged, yet Glasner came across as a man with a clear methodology that has worked at his previous clubs. He was not shy about naming past clubs where his approach had yielded results, underscoring a track record of building solidly wherever he has been. Glasner emphasizes non-negotiables in squad-building, Fray noted, arguing that while such standards do not guarantee success, they provide the best chance of achieving it, and that skipping them would significantly diminish the likelihood of success.
Fray said he was impressed by Glasner’s composure and experience in managing press conferences, adding that there are numerous takeaways for Forest supporters in how carefully considered Glasner was in his responses. The full episode offers more insight, available on BBC Sounds, as listeners can hear Glasner’s full session and Fray’s assessment of his approach and potential impact at Forest.