Manchester City hit Forest for six last August with Erling Haaland netting a hat-trick inside 38 minutes but Cooper intends to take lessons with him into Saturday’s clash.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper will go into Saturday’s clash at Manchester City with confidence despite seeing his side thrashed on their last trip to the Etihad.
Cooper won’t have particularly fond memories of facing City, having seen his side thrashed 6-0 early on last season. Erling Haaland had a hat-trick inside 38 minutes and there was a feeling Pep Guardiola’s side could have scored more, had they kept their foot on the gas.
It was a humbling defeat for Forest on their first season back in the Premier League for 23 years. But Cooper is going into Saturday’s game with a positive attitude – although he is minded to learn lessons from their last trip north.
“I don’t think it’s something you should forget, as difficult as it was,” Cooper said of last season’s defeat. “You should always look to learn and move forward. Man City – wherever you play but particularly at the Etihad – is the toughest game you can play in domestic football.
“You can go there, play well and still be on the back end of a difficult result, that’s the reality. We are fully aware of that but you have to go there with ambition, confidence and a mentality that you can be your best and things will unfold.
“We’re under no illusion how tough the game is but we’re in a good mindset at the moment and we’re only thinking about ourselves and how we can have the impact we want. If that’s enough on the day, great, but it might not be part when you’re away at City.
“Huge respect for Pep, Man City and the level they play at, what they did last season and what they continue to do but we have to go there with ambition to try and do the best we can.”
Cooper confirmed he is pushing to have Serge Aurier and Willy Boly available for Saturday’s game, with both having missed Monday’s 1-1 draw against Burnley. Boly was taken ill shortly before the game at the City Ground, while Aurier was forced off during the 1-0 win at Chelsea before the international break.
Forest come into the game in good form, having come from behind to draw at home to Burnley after going into the international break off the back of that win at Stamford Bridge. A win at home to Sheffield United in August leaves them on seven points going into the weekend.
Leave a Reply