Glasner's Forest fall to late Leeds free‑kick in first Premier League game
Oliver Glasner's first Premier League match as Nottingham Forest manager ended in a late defeat to Leeds United at the City Ground on 22 August 2026, with Anton Stach's free-kick beating Matz Sels two minutes from time. Glasner stood in the centre circle after the final whistle and applauded the rapidly emptying stadium, an image the article describes as almost apologetic.
Forest arrive at the new season needing stability after a campaign that involved four managers, and Glasner warned impatience was misplaced, saying: "There is no button to press," and "There are still a lot of things to do." The away celebrations contrasted sharply; Leeds boss Daniel Farke joined travelling supporters after Stach's late set-piece deceived goalkeeper Matz Sels. Glasner also stressed it was too early to judge on one game, noting his side remain a work in progress.
Forest fashioned the better chances: Igor Jesus missed a fine second-half header and Nikola Milenkovic struck the post, while Glasner's intended use of width through wing-backs was visible. However, the starting XI contained no new signings, leaving the hosts short on fresh faces and contributing to an underwhelming atmosphere at the City Ground. The match report records that Matz Sels was beaten at his near post by Anton Stach's late free kick.
The line-up had a familiar look after heavy recruitment in recent windows: 13 new players arrived last summer and 21 were signed in 2022, yet eight of Forest's starters had been included in Nuno Espirito Santo's side that opened last season with a win at Brentford. Summer signings Ousmane Diomande and Xaver Schlager were introduced with 17 minutes remaining, a change the piece says did not feel like the start of a new era. The article also states: "Arguably, they are weaker following Elliot Anderson's £116m move to Manchester City in July."
Glasner commented on fitness and availability, saying: "It's now getting confidence in what we are doing," and: "No new player played today. We could see a few players probably were not in the best physical shape, Murillo returned three weeks ago after four months out injured. Chris Wood missed two friendlies with minor issues. I could see many positives and encouraging parts but it is a process." Those observations were tied to the manager's wider point that squad rebuilding would take time.
On the transfer front, Glasner indicated the club were pursuing reinforcements, recalling that after victory in a friendly against Stade Brest they were working on "two or three" deals. The article notes Forest completed five signings in the final 12 days of the previous window and that winger Dilane Bakwa joined on deadline day, suggesting there is still time for late business. It adds that Forest are targeting Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall, with the Sweden international now likely to stay in north London.
Leeds and Farke were also given context: Farke is the third-longest serving Premier League manager after moving to Elland Road in July 2023, behind only Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery, and last season's 14th-place finish provides his side with a platform. The piece points to Leeds as an example of continuity Forest might seek to emulate while reiterating Forest's ambition to return to Europe after reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season.
Forest face Leeds again at the City Ground in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, and Glasner said of the defeat: "This [a defeat] always gives me a great feedback, how we deal with this situation. We do not bury our heads in the sand so we are focusing on what we need to do and what we have done well."
