Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka is optimistic ahead of the new season, and he says that he believes Forest fans can see that things at the City Ground are changing for the better.
The Spanish manager took charge of the Sky Bet Championship club in January of this year, and is looking forward to his first summer of rebuilding, as he looks to stamp his own mark on the current crop of players.
The East Midlands club finished 17th in the league this season, but the former Middlesbrough boss knows that is not good enough for the Forest faithful.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, the Spaniard said: “I feel we have a good platform to build on. It was tough and difficult in the beginning, but since we changed a few players and we started to work in the way I like to work; when everything started to fall in place, everything became easier,” .
“Now I am really pleased because I know that people are excited about next season. I do not know how many season ticket holders have already signed up for the following season, but it is good, because if we want to do something nice next season, we need to start in the right way.”
“When I arrived I said that the club had convinced me, because they were doing things to change; to try to make sure they were in the top six next season – and to be in the place where the club belongs, which is the Premier League.”
Whilst many managers will be enjoying a break away from the game following the conclusion of the season, Karanka has said that any plans for time away are on hold until certain deals are already in place.
“I need to work, because I know how important it is for us to start pre-season together. I would like to have the majority of the players we want in place at the beginning of pre-season,” he said.
“If we are able to finish the season playing in the way we have, after three or four months of work with the players, imagine what we can do with a full pre-season together.”
