Defender Scott McKenna has identified a particular motivational quote which helped Nottingham Forest on their way to promotion.
Head coach Steve Cooper would try to keep the mood positive in the group Whatsapp chat. But a saying from assistant Steven Reid also did the trick - albeit one, McKenna says, he picked up from Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
Reid used to be on the backroom staff with the national team, before stepping down from to focus on his work with the Reds in 2021. And he played an integral part in a successful 2021/22 season at the City Ground, setting the ball rolling for the transformation under Cooper when he was in caretaker charge for Forest’s first win of the campaign.
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That came against Huddersfield Town last September. And, with a touch of symmetry, the Terriers were the opponents as the Reds ended their stay in the Championship at Wembley. McKenna says his experiences with his country helped as Cooper’s side triumphed via the play-offs.
“Obviously with a play-off game there is a different atmosphere,” the centre-back told The Scotsman, speaking before he scored his first goal for Scotland in Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Armenia. “I didn’t play in the play-off games (for Scotland) that got us to the Euros but I was part of the squad and saw how the boys prepared.
“I have Steven Reid as a coach at Forest as well. He actually stole a couple of Steve Clarke’s quotes when we were having team meetings heading into the play-off semi-final and final.
“There was actually one a lot of the lads bought into. I think having that sort of bond and that sort of experience helped us get over the line.
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“It was: ‘Don’t play with the fear of failure, play with the anticipation of success.’ That was one that was plastered all round the dressing room going into the semi-finals and final and it was one Steve Clarke put up before the Serbia game.
“For a lot of people, going into those games, it’s hard. ‘I don’t want to be the one that makes the mistake. I don’t want to be the one that costs the team’.
“But, you can’t play like that. You’ve got to play with freedom and try to think about the positives and what you can do to impact the game instead of just floating through, not wanting to be the one that makes a mistake.”
