--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-08-26T01:53:02.018Z last_updated: 2026-08-25T22:29:37+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/nottingham-forest/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubm90dGluZ2hhbXBvc3QuY29tL3Nwb3J0L2Zvb3RiYWxsL2Zvb3RiYWxsLW5ld3Mvbm90dGluZ2hhbS1mb3Jlc3QtbGVlZHMtY3VwLWdsYXNuZXItMTExMjc3Nzc --- # Oliver Glasner spells out Nottingham Forest 'reality' after Carabao Cup defeat - **Source:** - **Published:** 25 Aug - **Club:** Nottingham Forest - **Original URL:** https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-leeds-cup-glasner-11127777 Head coach Oliver Glasner says Nottingham Forest cannot “ignore reality” as a frustrating start to the season continued with defeat in the Carabao Cup. The Reds went into the second round tie at the City Ground looking to exact revenge after losing to the same opposition in Saturday’s Premier League opener. Instead, they were beaten by Leeds United for the second time in the space of a few days, this time 2-0. Glasner has called for patience since taking on the Forest role last month. After this midweek loss, he underlined the point by saying a team that battled relegation last term cannot suddenly be transformed. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page “Frustrating night. But on the other side, what we have to accept, what everybody has to accept, is it's the reality,” he said. “When you play Leeds twice at home and you lose both games, that means Leeds are better and further than where we are right now. That's the reality. “We are the only ones who can change this. This is what we have to do and what we will do now - working on the pitch, sticking together, but also accepting and not finding excuses. “The reality is, and I think everybody has to understand and accept, nine months of relegation battle, losing maybe your top midfielder (Elliot Anderson), and now we're six weeks together. The reality is no magician, no Messiah, it's just hard work. This is what we have to do. “It doesn't make sense talking about the seventh place (in 2025). This is the reality. It's hard, it's tough, but if you ignore the reality, then you live in your dreamland and this is never the best thing to do. “On the other side, it's a massive chance for everyone to be part of this journey and of this process. I have huge trust in the players, but right now Leeds are further (along) and better, and it's our responsibility and our job to change this.” He added: “This is a little bit the assessment after six weeks here that maybe, and not just in the team, it’s maybe in the club, that there's a little bit of ignoring the reality. "Right now, we are far away from where we want to be and where I'm really convinced we will be. It's in these situations, when it becomes emotional, I always go back to the facts. The fact is that this team had a relegation battle for nine months, a very turbulent season and it ended with a huge effort to stay in the league, and this is our starting point. “It’s really very important not to blame anybody because sometimes I tell them facts and they say, ‘Oh, Glasner is complaining’. No, no, no. But then maybe your best midfielder leaves the club and now we expect we compete for European places because Oliver Glasner is in. Sorry, this is what I can't deliver within six weeks.” Delivered straight to your inbox, our regular email bulletins feature all the latest Forest news, views, gossip, opinion and transfer updates. Social Media: You can also get all the latest updates by following us on social media here Facebook and X WhatsApp: You can also get all your favourite content from the Nottingham Post's Forest team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club. App: We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest Forest news. You can personalise the content you see by selecting Nottingham Forest as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here.