Cooper delighted to have World Cup winner Montiel as Forest newbie ‘comes with great pedigree’
Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper hopes Gonzalo Montiel’s World Cup-winning pedigree rubs off on the rest of his team.
The full-back netted the decisive penalty as Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final and the 26-year-old also scored the winning spot-kick in last season’s Europa League final for Spanish outfit Sevilla.
Montiel has signed for the Premier League on an initial season-long loan deal but this may become permanent next year. He could make his Forest debut at Manchester United this weekend.
“As a club, we’re always interested in bringing good players in, like any thriving Premier League squad which is what we want to become,” Forest boss Cooper said of Montiel’s arrival.
“You need as much competition and strength in depth as you can – and we saw this as an example of that.
“We’re pleased he’s here and he comes with great pedigree. He has trained here for the first time and he looked at home.”
On Montiel’s historic spot-kick double last season, Cooper added: “It doesn’t get any bigger in terms of moments, incredible really to think that’s the case.
“They are moments of character, resilience and confidence and let’s hope he and the rest of the squad can show that in helping us improve.
“He’s got some great reference points and if he can add it to us we’ll be a better squad.”
Forest followed up an opening-day Premier League defeat at Arsenal by beating Sheffield United and Cooper expects movement in and out of the City Ground before the transfer window closes on September 1.
“It’s hard to say how much, but there will be some business for sure,” said the Welshman.
“Everybody at the club have been working really hard to add players and of course with that, there will be others who will have to leave or will want to leave.
“There are different situations around different players so it’s fairly normal in terms of the situation we find ourselves in at this time of the year.”
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Forest rejected two reported Brentford bids of £30million and £35m for Brennan Johnson last month, while Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham and Aston Villa have all been linked with the 22-year-old.
Asked if there had been further enquiries regarding the future of the Wales forward, Cooper said: “I’m not sure as I don’t deal with that.
“I talk to Brennan every day but they are normal conversations with him and it’s not really about his future, more just about football, performance and development.
“If we get told at some stage things change we’ll deal with it then.
“I can imagine there is speculation about Brennan. I don’t pay attention to it, but he’s a really talented young player and the exciting bit is that he’s got a lot more to come as well.”
