Reds great Stuart Pearce discusses the Reds’ season, as well as manager Steve Cooper.
Stuart Pearce has defended Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper, calling suggestions of pressure on him “outlandish.”
The former defender, nicknamed ‘Psycho’ for his aggressive style of play while playing, made over 400 games for the Reds and led the team between 2014 and 2015. Since then, he has worked as an assistant manager at West Ham under David Moyes, where he will leave in 2022.
And the Forest great has backed the club’s current management wholeheartedly. When asked if prior accusations in the national media that Cooper’s career was under threat were true, Pearce was categorical in his response in an exclusive interview with NottinghamshireLive.
“Personally, no,” he said. “I’ve seen how he’s united the football club. In regard to the fans, I think the fans have got his backing, which is brilliant to see and to be fair I think the way the away games certainly have panned out too, the difficulty of the away games.
“I believe their current position in the league is just three points away from being perceived as a decent start to the season. They are comfortably clear of the relegation zone, a position they have maintained since the season’s commencement in the summer. The club is on an upward trajectory, and I see Steve Cooper in a similar light.
Cooper continues to navigate the challenge of integrating new players, a task he has handled remarkably well amid the influx over the past couple of seasons. The departure of Brennan Johnson, a key player for Forest, also poses an additional challenge.
Furthermore, Pearce highlighted the Reds’ impressive counter-attacking prowess this season and emphasized the significance of their recent triumph over high-flying Aston Villa. He dismissed any notions of pressure on Cooper, stating, ‘To even suggest that Steve Cooper is under any form of pressure is outlandish.'”
Forest is set to face Everton on Saturday, followed by away fixtures against Fulham and Wolves in the upcoming week. Stuart Pearce expresses uncertainty about the significance of these next three games for the Reds, hinting at the possibility that Steve Cooper’s team may be struggling to find a balance between adopting a more expansive style and being cautious and defensive.
Pearce suggests that the team’s home form might be impacted by this dilemma, as their away form and points tally have been relatively satisfactory. Looking ahead to the critical upcoming fixtures, including the game against Fulham, Pearce emphasizes their importance, stating, “We can’t afford to lose this game” to avoid conceding valuable points to rivals.
When asked about the prospect of returning to the club in the future, Pearce remains open to the idea, acknowledging the successful management of the team in the Premier League under Steve Cooper and owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Read also: Wolves’ Max Kilman Reflects on ‘Too Honest’ Moment in Fulham Head-Butt Incident
