New Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has said the only focus he has going into the clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers is about how we play.
With everyone talking about Wolves, their spending and their top spot in the Championship as we now find ourselves in the second half of the campaign, Karanka was philosophical about things as we head to the Molineux this weekend.
Speaking to the Official Forest Site as he met with the media ahead of the game, the new gaffer knew clearly we were the underdogs given their entirely unexpected form and results this season but for him, he wanted everyone at the club to simply focus on ourselves and not the league leaders as he sees no reason to be overawed.
‘The fixtures are there and it is Wolves this week, last week it was Villa. We need to forget the opponent and focus on ourselves. To grow, we need to think about us and think we can get a result on Saturday. If we go to Wolves thinking about them being top of the table and how hard it is going to be, then we may as well stay at home. I haven’t come here to stay at home. I have come here to win games and to do that as soon as possible.’
Karanka added his approach was simple and that’s what he wanted from the players themselves.
‘We need to go there thinking that we can win the game. For me, as a manager, it would be impossible to convince the players that we can win if I don’t believe it myself. I am sure that we can do something against Wolves but I know that it will be a difficult game.’
With a first full week in charge of the side now, Karanka also spoke of how he felt he had made some good progress in terms of getting his message across to the group and starting to see the signs of them taking those messages on board.
‘We have had the whole week to train and now I know the players better, they know me better. Their intensity is good and it has been good to have the whole week to train as this is a long journey and it is good to keep going step by step. We need to improve our intensity and organisation. They are a good group of players who play good football but we need to improve on those things as in modern football, if you don’t play with intensity it is difficult to win games.’
