Oliver Glasner will take Nottingham Forest out at the City Ground for the first time on Wednesday when Forest face Bayer Leverkusen in a key pre-season test. It is the club’s first home friendly of the summer, and one of the final chances to sharpen up before the Premier League opener against Leeds United.
Forest’s pre-season has been played entirely away from home until now. The schedule has included seven friendlies, with matches in Portugal, Italy and one at Meadow Lane before the team returns to the City Ground for back-to-back games against Bayer Leverkusen and Stade Brestois. After that, the focus shifts fully to the league season, which begins in less than two weeks.
Glasner wants patience as Forest adapt
Glasner said last month at his unveiling that it could take three to six months for players to adjust to such a significant change in system, and his comments this week reflected that same message. He said he was very excited to play the first game at the City Ground, but also asked supporters for patience because the squad is still settling into his methods.
That point matters because the manager has had to work around some late arrivals. Dan Ndoye has only been with the group for five days, while Ibrahim Sangare was away for 12 or 13 days, meaning the team has not had a fully uninterrupted build-up. Even so, Glasner said the work ethic and atmosphere at the training ground have been top, and that the progress in training has given him confidence.
Why the Leverkusen game matters
The match against Bayer Leverkusen is more than just another summer friendly. Glasner described it as exactly the kind of challenge Forest need at this stage, with top opponents helping prepare the squad for the Premier League. Sunday’s game against Stade Brestois will follow quickly, giving Forest two home tests in five days before the Leeds United opener.
For Forest, the City Ground fixtures offer a first look at how the new system translates in front of home supporters. For Glasner, it is also a marker of how far the group has come after a pre-season spent entirely on the road. The results may not yet show the full picture, but the next few days should offer a clearer sense of where Nottingham Forest stand heading into the new season.
