Steve Cooper has paid emotional tribute to captain Joe Worrall after a family tragedy ‘putting himself second to the football club’ and leading Nottingham Forest to a historic win at Chelsea.
Worrall’s uncle Graham Saville was police sergeant. Who lost his life last week after being hit by a train while trying to save a man in distress.
Forest manager Cooper said: ‘He’s been incredible. I knew what was going on before it became public and he put himself second to the football club.
‘People showed a lot of respect for what he’s been through. And I can’t speak highly of the person he’s been this week or so.
‘I know how important it will be today. This will give him and his family some respite. Nothing can make up for what happened but at least it gives him some good feelings for a while. It was very consequential for them today.’
Forest produced a near-perfect away performance to claim their first win at Chelsea in 28 years. Although Cooper admitted he made a big mistake wearing a jumper in the September heat at Stamford Bridge.
Cooper required a large red beach towel. Which he also carried in his post-match press conference, to help wipe away sweat during the game and joked: ‘The biggest mistake of the day is on me. I read the weather completely wrong.
‘Hence the towel. Then we scored and I thought I wouldn’t leave my towel. I played it all. I’m sweating my balls off to be honest.’
Mason Greenwood leaves Manchester United in loan
Chelsea were encouraged after suffering their second league defeat of the season in their opening four games. And Mauricio Pochettino said: ‘You can understand people who have come from the past. They want to see the team winning and playing well. We are not playing brilliantly but the performance is not bad.,
“If we had scored in the first few minutes and had two big chances, we might have finished differently. But I understand, the fans want to win and we need to give them a chance to be happy. And yes, we need to keep working and we are going to be positive. I think we are at Chelsea and we have to win every game.”