Head coach Steve Cooper admits Nottingham Forest have been left with a near-impossible task for next week’s semi-final second leg against Manchester United.
The Reds head to Old Trafford with a 3-0 deficit, having been well beaten in the first leg at the City Ground. Marcus Rashford found the net early on, with Wout Weghorst dealing a suckerpunch at the end of the first half, just as the hosts had started to come back into the game. Bruno Fernandes then increased United’s advantage late on.
Cooper was particularly frustrated with the manner and the timing of the goals conceded. But he still wants his team to approach next Wednesday’s tie in the right way.
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“I think it is going to be incredibly tough. It was anyway, but you can times that by three now,” he said.
“What we have to do is be very professional, in terms of how we review the game, and we’ve got to set some objectives in the second leg to give ourselves - who knows - an opportunity. But we also want to make sure we go into the game and come out of the game in a better place than what we went into it. That doesn’t just include getting through, because we could win 1-0 or 2-0 next week and it still wouldn’t be enough.
“We have to always remember that we are building a team, we are building a way, we are building everything. Of course we are not right at the start of that process anymore, but we are certainly not at the end. We have got to set some clear objectives beyond just trying to get something out of the tie, to try to help us move forward.
“The road to success is about dealing with disappointments. I’m a massive believer in that.
“Although disappointments are not something you encourage or want, when they happen, I’m also very clear that sometimes they can be good for you.
“We have to approach it in that way. Don’t accept it, don’t be fluffy about it, don’t be soft about the things we didn’t do well in the game, but also, don’t be too narrow-minded or naive enough to think we can’t live and learn from it.
“I’m still pleased the supporters got the opportunity to walk over Trent Bridge and up to the ground thinking their team is in a semi-final; I won’t lose sight of that. But it’s a bit frustrating with the scoreline and the goals.”
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