Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi says the ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis has been made very clear during the short time he has been at the club so far.
Greek businessman Marinakis is eager to see the Reds clinch a place in the Premier League and joked to his recently-appointed head coach, “you go up or I kill you”!
Lamouchi replaced Martin O’Neill at the helm in June, very early in Forest’s pre-season, and tomorrow, when West Bromwich Albion visit the City Ground.
The Reds finished ninth in the table last time out, eight points adrift of the play-off places.
Lamouchi is well aware of the challenge ahead, having not managed in England before, but says the team must stick together when they face “difficult moments”.
“When you know 11 managers tried just in the last five years, you can imagine in football you need a little bit of stability,” the former Rennes chief told the Guardian.
“For sure, we will face difficult moments, but in difficult moments we must be altogether to find the right solution.”
And of Marinakis’ ambition, he added with a laugh: “It’s clear. ‘You go up or I kill you’. I’m joking, of course.”
Marinakis bought the club two years ago and has backed Lamouchi in the transfer market this summer, with eight arrivals in total – seven while the Frenchman has been at the helm.
“He (Marinakis) believes more than the biggest fans because he has put (in) a lot of money, he invests in this club and he knows the right place for Nottingham Forest is not in the Championship – but up,” Lamouchi said.
“He gave me a big chance. He trusts me.
“When you have a big dream and you give the chance to one guy to realise his dream, it’s a big honour for me.”
