Montanier’s Forest welcome the Gunners in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Philippe Montanier has cited Middlesbrough as a team he would like to emulate at Nottingham Forest, during an interview with the club’s official Twitter account.
Montanier took the reins on Trentside in the summer, and is trying to implement – in his own words – an “attacking, technical” style of football.
However, he stressed the transition will take “some time” to master, as it did with Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough side.
Karanka took two-and-a-half years to deliver promotion from the Championship, with Boro 16th at the time of his appointment.
And Montanier told Forest’s official Twitter account:
Forest welcome Premier League runners-up Arsenal to the City Ground in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday.
Montanier has rotated his side heavily in the first month-and-a-half at the club, but has hinted he could go with a settled side against the Gunners.
Having confirmed the absence of striker Britt Assombalonga and defensive duo Thomas Lam and Damien Perquis, who need “a few more days”, the Frenchman added:
The two sides have not faced each other since 1999, the year in which Forest last appeared in England’s top flight.
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