Oliver Glasner sends Nottingham Forest warning ahead of Leeds United Premier League opener

Oliver Glasner has admitted Nottingham Forest will not be fully prepared for their Premier League opener against Leeds United, despite overseeing an encouraging victory over Bayer Leverkusen in pre-season.

The Austrian manager believes it is unrealistic to expect his squad to reach peak condition after only a few weeks together, warning there is still significant work to do before Forest begin their campaign.

Speaking to Sky Austria following Nottingham Forest's 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen, Glasner stressed that fitness and cohesion remain his priorities ahead of a demanding start to the season.

Forest open their Premier League campaign against Leeds United before facing the same opponents again just days later in the Carabao Cup, with a trip to Liverpool also looming.

"We had a crazily intense preparation behind us so far and that means getting fit.

"We're starting right away with a double header against Leeds on Saturday in the Premier League and then on Tuesday again here at City Ground in the Carabao Cup.

"So that's two Premier League games within three days. Then it's off to Anfield. So that's why we still have some homework to do."

The Forest boss admitted supporters should not expect his side to be operating at full capacity so early in the campaign.

"Without wanting to paint things black, we will not yet be in our best condition at the beginning. We would be wizards if we get that done within five, six weeks or with players who might train with us for a week or two."

Glasner only arrived at the City Ground in July following his departure from Crystal Palace, inheriting a squad that endured a turbulent campaign last season.

The club went through four different managers, prompting a major reset ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Austrian says the focus remains on rebuilding strong foundations rather than expecting immediate results.

"There's just an awful lot to do, getting to know a lot of people, of course, discussing transfers etc. But yeah, it's fun.

"As I said, everyone is pulling together. Now it's important that we want to stabilise Nottingham.

"Basically, we had to go to zero and to start again. We did that, and I'm very satisfied with the progress."

While Forest's victory over Bayer Leverkusen provided encouragement, Glasner's comments suggest he is taking a measured approach as the club begins another rebuilding project. However, pre-season results are rarely a reliable indicator of how teams will perform once competitive football begins.

Nottingham Forest's attention now turns to their Premier League opener against Leeds United before the two sides meet again in the Carabao Cup just three days later. Glasner will use those early fixtures to continue integrating his squad, with a difficult away trip to Liverpool following shortly afterwards as Forest's demanding start to the season continues.

Do Glasner's comments lower expectations for Nottingham Forest, or could they still make a strong start against Leeds United?