Nuno Espirito Santo has expressed confidence that a resolution will be reached regarding his future at Nottingham Forest, despite recent speculation surrounding his position. He also lauded the strong connection between his players and the club's devoted supporters.
The build-up to Forest's match against Crystal Palace was overshadowed by reports suggesting that Nuno's job was under threat. It was even suggested that Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was considering potential replacements.
Nuno addressed the media on Friday, acknowledging that his relationship with Marinakis had become strained. However, he denied that he was attempting to force a move away from the club. Forest subsequently drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, with Callum Hudson-Odoi's goal cancelling out Ismaila Sarr's opener.
Looking ahead, Nuno is scheduled to hold discussions with Forest's global head of football, Edu, this week. He hopes that these talks will lead to a positive outcome and put an end to the ongoing uncertainty. “I believe that that is the only way to operate in a football club, if everybody is on the same page,” Nuno told Sky Sports, emphasizing the importance of unity within the club.
“It is helping in the same direction, so hopefully, we can do it this week and move forward – and take these nonsense questions and narratives away from our daily [lives]. I am a person who thinks a lot before saying anything. I say this because I believe that things can improve, but now is a moment to ignore the noise and focus on what I have to do. My job is clear. Of course, there will be a resolution. Everything is going to be OK, for sure. It is the moment to sit down and talk. More important is how we play football and I think we are improving, trying to adjust some things and that is where my focus is.”
Nuno also spoke passionately about the bond between the team and the fans, saying: “The bond that was created between the team and the fans is there to stay. It is unbreakable due to the fantastic moments we had last season. It was a beautiful journey – it will stick in our memories forever. No matter what happens, we will have this respect and mutual love.”
Adding to the sense of community, Nottingham Forest posted a message to their fans on X (formerly Twitter).
Crystal Palace, like Forest, have also maintained an unbeaten start to their season. However, they played out their fifth draw in six Premier League meetings with Nottingham Forest.
The Eagles also faced the departure of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, a loss that will test their squad depth. Their transfer activity has been relatively quiet, with only £3 million spent on four players.
Despite the limited transfer activity, manager Oliver Glasner remains optimistic about adding new players before the transfer window closes. “I think everybody can see we can’t afford to lose starters,” he said. “It’s not too easy with one week to go. We need players to make us better and keep the competition high. This is what we’re looking for, and I’m pretty sure we’ll get the right ones in.”
Reflecting on the game, Glasner added: “It’s a deserved draw for both teams. [In the] first half, we took the lead and, in the second half, the pressure increased. Nottingham Forest deserved the equaliser. We lost possession too quickly and too easily. We need to be more efficient. It’s our fourth game now and many players have played every single minute. We know this. We’ve got eight, nine, 10 days to strengthen the squad, and I am pretty sure we will do this.”
