Nottingham Forest Manager Nuno Espirito Santo Reflects on Manchester City Defeat

Following Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City, manager Nuno Espirito Santo told BBC Sport that while “A lot of things didn’t work out when you lose,” it would be inaccurate to claim his team performed poorly. He stated, “At the same time you can’t be unfair and say we didn’t play good. We tried, we pressed, we were not clinical with the chances we had.” When asked if Chris Wood’s missed opportunity was crucial, Espirito Santo affirmed, “Yes and it was pivotal. Chris is a good striker of the ball. Inches from the post, it can change the momentum of the game.” He described the impact of the miss, adding, “After that it was a big punch in our stomach and a mountain to climb.” Despite the outcome, the manager noted, “We had chances. It wasn’t to be, let’s go for the next one.” He also highlighted the “positives when you try to challenge yourself and compete against one of the best teams.” Espirito Santo acknowledged the opposition’s strength, stating, “I didn’t have doubts of the quality of the [City] players and manager. They started well. We were ready for that. We had moments.” He concluded by mentioning the tight schedule, remarking, “There’s not much time because in two days’ time we’re playing again.”