Julen Lopetegui is being considered as a potential replacement for Steve Cooper, who is facing challenges at Forest.

Nottingham Forest is considering Julen Lopetegui as a potential replacement for struggling manager Steve Cooper.

Lopetegui is currently unemployed after departing from Wolves right before the start of the season. Additionally, Forest is believed to still be interested in hiring former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner.

Cooper is set to lead Forest in their game against Wolves on Saturday. However, his job is in jeopardy following their devastating 5-0 defeat against Fulham on Wednesday, which marked their fourth consecutive loss. Cooper expressed feeling embarrassed about receiving widespread support from the away fans, who chanted his name at the end of the match.

The owner of Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, is worried about the current direction under Cooper. Forest is only six points above relegation with just one win in 11 games since September. Marinakis also owns Olympiakos and recently fired Diego Martínez, who had the team in fourth place in the Greek top division. Despite this, there has been growing support for Cooper to be given more time.

This is not the initial instance of Cooper experiencing significant stress. However, there is a sense of disappointment at Forest as they are not meeting expectations despite spending over £100 million on their team in the summer. In order to meet financial fair play requirements, they approved the £47 million transfer of Brennan Johnson to Tottenham.

Forest granted Cooper a fresh agreement in October of last year following five consecutive losses, but he is now facing increased scrutiny following recent defeats against West Ham, Brighton, Everton, and Fulham. Forest had hoped that Cooper would be able to improve the team’s performance, beginning with the match against Fulham.

On Thursday, Cooper conducted his press conference before the match as planned. When questioned about the significance of the upcoming Wolves game for his future, Cooper responded by saying that he does not believe in using such thought processes. Despite being disappointed with recent results and last night’s performance, he emphasized the importance of displaying belief and character in defining oneself and standing up for what the club and its supporters need to see.

Marinakis was present at Craven Cottage, but reportedly left with approximately 20 minutes remaining in the game when Fulham scored their fourth goal. Following the match, a lanyard with Marinakis’s accreditation was supposedly discovered in a nearby bush. Cooper did not have a conversation with Marinakis, but did speak with his son Miltiadis and the Forest sporting director, Ross Wilson.

When asked if he was disappointed in his team, Cooper responded by saying, “These types of situations give us a chance to demonstrate our commitment to the club on Saturday. We hope to see our players step up and take responsibility. I, myself, will certainly do so.”

Source: theguardian.com