Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper says being the leader Nottingham Forest look to in tough moments “means more” to him than just overseeing the good times Since he took charge at the City Ground last September, the Reds have undergone a remarkable transformation under Cooper. They have gone from propping up the Championship 12 months ago to being back in the top-flight after a 23-year absence, with the head coach inspiring a unity not seen at the club for some time. Now, the Welshman finds himself facing a different kind of challenge. For the first time as Forest boss he is having to steer his team through a sticky patch. Against Leicester City on Monday night, Cooper will be out to end a run of four straight defeats and spark an upturn in fortunes which can see his side claw their way up the table. But he isn’t hiding away from the test in front of him, and says it only drives him to succeed.
Steve Cooper said: “It’s recognising the situation you are in and the context you are in, and working even harder to improve – but doing it in the way you believe in, sticking to your principles and sticking to your plan. Okay, maybe evolving and adapting and tweaking; of course you have to be open minded to that. But in the end, you have to stick to what you really stand for. And actually, managing something that is so important to me – as this football club is – through getting out of this little run, I’m open-minded enough and open enough to say that it means more to me standing up and being a leader in the difficult moments than in the good moments. In the tough moments, I want to be the first person that everyone looks at and looks for. That’s more important to me than anything else, if I’m being honest.”
