The Austrian manager accepted that transforming Nottingham Forest would require patience following their season-opening loss to Leeds United.
The home side were beaten 1-0 at the City Ground when Anton Stach struck a late free-kick. This was not the beginning the new manager had envisioned, particularly after his team had appeared destined to secure a point.
Glasner acknowledged there remains significant work ahead. He had emphasised to his squad the importance of set-pieces against Leeds, and that proved decisive in the match by the River Trent.
The coach explained there is no instant fix for the situation. He noted the team needs to build belief in their approach while acknowledging numerous areas still require attention. He observed several positive signs during the match but emphasised this is a gradual process. He stressed the need to show respect for opponents, noting Leeds were physical and strong. He made clear he could not arrive with his coaching staff and simply transform the squad overnight. He identified a team that worked extremely hard for victory, particularly after the interval. He suggested the defeat provides valuable information about how the squad handles adversity. He described both teams’ performances as acceptable for a first Premier League fixture following a lengthy break and indicated this is not the moment to ignore problems but instead concentrate on improvements and strengths.
He believed his side deserved victory but everyone recognised a single incident would determine the outcome. He had told his players that whoever wins the set-piece battle wins the match. Unfortunately Leeds’ one set-piece proved enough to secure the three points. He felt his team improved as the match progressed and created several threatening moments. He pointed out that errors in the Premier League result in punishment. He referenced his pre-match press conference where he had noted Leeds finished last season impressively and are a strong physical aggressive side. He said the team needed around a quarter of an hour to find their rhythm but moved the ball swiftly and grew stronger as the game went on. He clarified this had nothing to do with tactics and was simply about what must be done. He stated that when entering the penalty area, the team must be more assertive and direct.