Nottingham Forest’s players shouldn’t feel under any added pressure amid a promotion push, according to Reds legend Frank Clark.
It has been more than two decades since Forest graced the Premier League, but they are battling to get back there this season under Sabri Lamouchi.
The Frenchman has guided them to fifth in the table with 13 games to go, four points adrift of the top two.
Former Forest player, manager and chairman Clark knows all about what it takes to achieve success in the Garibaldi, and says the challenge is not to overcomplicate the task ahead.
“The players are under pressure, but not really,” said the European Cup winner.
“The only pressure they should be under is to go out there and give their best every game; to train properly and live correctly, and do what the manager asks them to do.
“One of Brian Clough’s great strengths was to never ask players to do what they couldn’t do. But if you didn’t do what you could do properly, he would let you know! There’s no great secret to it.
“The players are working very hard and the manager is working very hard.
“There’s 13 games to go and we are right amongst it.”
Lamouchi has made a significant impact since arriving at the City Ground last June, with the squad also undergoing something of an overhaul that summer.
Twelve new signings were made back then, with a further three brought in during the January transfer window, as well as the recall of striker Tyler Walker.
Clark feels it is the squad’s strength as a collective unit, as well as the guidance of their head coach, which has led to a winning formula this term.
“He knows what he’s doing,” he said of Lamouchi.
“He’s got his own way of playing that the players have bought into, and there seems to be a great atmosphere around the squad.
“It seems to be very much ‘all for one and one for all’, which can help.
“With the help of the club and the acquisitions we’ve made, that’s why we are where we are. We’ve brought some good players in who are doing well.”
