Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi has apologised for his side’s capitulation against Stoke that cost them a Championship play-off place on Wednesday, describing his side’s failure to secure a top-six spot as unacceptable.
Lamouchi’s side went into the game knowing that a draw against Stoke would guarantee them a play-off place, while even a marginal defeat could have ensured that, given they were three points ahead of seventh-placed Swansea, with a goal difference advantage of five.
However, a stunning 4-1 defeat to the Potters, coupled with victory over Reading by the same scoreline for Swansea, saw Forest slip out of the top-six, and left Lamouchi stunned, with his side having picked up just two points from their last five games of the season.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live after the game, the Forest boss said: “I don’t have any words.
“I can’t explain what’s happened tonight or what’s happened for the last five games – how it is possible to not secure the play-offs before, with just one point.
“I can’t explain what’s happened tonight – when you come back in the game and then 20 minutes before the end we lost control.
“I don’t have words in my mind now. I just have disaster. Unacceptable.”
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Offering an apology to those associated with the club, Lamouchi continued: “I am so sorry for the Forest community – the fans and all people who have followed us all season. It is just unacceptable to lose what we lost today.
“It is just unacceptable what’s happened tonight. It is just unacceptable after what we have done for 12 or 13 months, to be out like that. The worst scenario.
“It is just unacceptable and I can’t explain it. I am so sorry.”
You do have to feel slightly for Lamouchi here.
It is clear that this result has hit him hard, which is not surprising given the damage it could to the club, and to his own reputation.
However, football is also a results business, and to not get that place in the play-offs from what was such a strong position for so much of the season is almost inexplicable, meaning Lamouchi will surely have some difficult questions to answer over the next few days.
