Nuno Espirito Santo: “We Are Struggling” as Nottingham Forest European Dream Hits the Skids

Forest’s Fairytale Season Falters After Brentford Blow

Just a few short weeks ago, Nottingham Forest fans were daring to dream. A top-four finish — and with it, a golden ticket to the Champions League — felt like a genuine possibility. The City Ground was buzzing, belief was high, and Nuno Espirito Santo seemed to have built something truly special in his first full season at the helm.

But fast forward to the final days of April, and the mood has shifted dramatically.

Forest’s 2-0 defeat away to Brentford on Thursday marked their third Premier League loss in four games. Coming hot on the heels of their FA Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Manchester City, this latest setback has dealt a heavy blow to their ambitions. The top four now looks out of reach, and even a Europa League spot is starting to feel uncertain.

After the match, Nuno cut a candid figure — not angry, but clearly frustrated. And above all, honest.

Nuno Espirito Santo: “We Don’t See the Pressure, But We Feel It”

nuno-espirito-santo

Speaking to reporters after the final whistle at the Gtech Community Stadium, the Portuguese manager didn’t sugarcoat the situation.

“We don’t see it but we feel it,” Nuno said, referring to the pressure mounting around his side. “The explanation for that, we have to find in ourselves.”

He didn’t blame fatigue or bad luck. Instead, he pointed to his team’s lack of focus and a sudden inability to do the simple things right — traits that had previously underpinned their rise up the table.

“We are struggling in some aspects of our game – focus and determination to be practical and solve the situations that are simple to solve,” he admitted. “(To get back to ourselves) is the basic option we have. We don’t have to change — we have to go back and find our version.”

That version, as Forest fans know well, is compact, gritty, and disciplined — the sort of side that doesn’t give away chances cheaply and always finds a way to stay in games. But against Brentford, Nuno admitted, they were anything but.

“With all respect to Brentford, it was too easy,” he said bluntly.

Defensive Solidity Has Slipped

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

For much of the campaign, Forest built their success on a rock-solid defensive foundation. They were organised, hard to break down, and capable of grinding out clean sheets when needed. But on Thursday night, those hallmarks vanished.

“We’ve been clear and spoken many times about how we play,” Nuno continued. “Our basic is being compact and solid — we don’t give away chances. We are a team that always covers, so our opponents have to do much more to achieve what they achieved today.”

His tone wasn’t accusatory, but it carried the weight of disappointment. Forest, he seemed to say, had strayed from their roots. And now, they’re paying the price.

A Historic Finish Still Possible — But Time Is Running Out

Despite the recent setbacks, all is not lost. With four games left to play, Forest still have an outside chance of making history. Eighth place — which would be the club’s highest finish in Premier League history — is within reach. But as Nuno made clear, it will require a near-perfect run-in.

“I think we were in a position where there’s three teams above us that we need to finish above,” he said. “So that’s a challenge. There are four games left, we have a chance of finishing eighth, which would be the best position in the club’s history in the Premier League.”

That goal, he emphasised, is still something worth fighting for — especially considering how far the club has come in recent years.

“It’ll be a fantastic achievement,” he added, “but it depends on the perfect run-in and it demands that we do what we’ve done so well over the last four years — laser-like focus on the next game.”

The Road Ahead: Crystal Palace Up Next

Next up for Forest is a potentially tricky trip to Selhurst Park, where they’ll take on Crystal Palace on May 5. With Palace showing signs of revival under Oliver Glasner and Forest’s confidence wavering, it’s a fixture that suddenly carries huge importance.

The message from Nuno is clear: the team needs to rediscover its identity — and fast.

“It’s not about reinventing ourselves,” he said. “It’s about remembering who we are. Getting back to our basics, our discipline, our belief. That’s what made us strong. That’s what got us here.”

And he’s not wrong. Forest’s rise from Championship hopefuls to top-half contenders in the space of two seasons has been one of English football’s more underrated modern stories. But the fairytale — to borrow Nuno’s own word — now finds itself at a crossroads.

Players Under Pressure, but the Belief Remains

While Nuno declined to single out individuals, the pressure is undoubtedly mounting on key players. The likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Murillo have been instrumental at different points this season, but the recent dip in form has affected the whole squad. Confidence, once flowing freely, now looks brittle.

Yet if there’s one thing Nuno is known for, it’s unity. And despite the recent setbacks, he was quick to defend his players’ commitment.

“I see belief, desire, and commitment,” he insisted. “But the reality is we are struggling. The players know it. But they’re working, they’re fighting. We’ll get through this.”

Still a Season to Remember — But How It Ends Will Define It

Whatever happens over the next four matches, this has been a campaign of progress for Nottingham Forest. A strong league finish is still possible, and even with no silverware or European qualification, the foundation laid this year could serve the club well for seasons to come.

But in the short term, Forest fans will be hoping their side can finish on a high — not with a whimper.

Because while the fairytale might be wobbling, it’s not over yet.