Nuno Espirito Santo Reflects on Nottingham Forest’s Victory Over Manchester United

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Sport following his team’s win against Manchester United, expressing general satisfaction with the outcome. He praised his players’ performance, stating: “Not many things to be upset about. the boys did amazing. Scoring in the first action makes everything different. After that we were good.” Santo highlighted the significance of player conviction in every action for securing early goals. He also noted the positive start to the second half and the team’s composure. He observed the squad’s continuous development and improvement, acknowledging areas that still require attention, but overall expressing contentment: “The belief of the players believing every action is important [is key to early goals]. The beginning of the second half was very good for us too. Compsure was good. The team is growing, improving. We still have things to address but it’s nice.” The coach discussed the ongoing effort to refine tactical details, particularly concerning the first-half organization. He mentioned that despite being organized, they allowed United to exploit wide areas, indicating a need for minor adjustments: “A tough time is about trying to get the details right. First half we were organised but allowing United to break to the wide areas. It’s about adjusting details.” Santo pointed out the demanding schedule, noting the considerable challenge for his team to play in Manchester just three days after a difficult match against City. He also emphasized that consistent execution of set-pieces contributes to success: “It was a big ask for us to come to Manchester three days time after a tough game against City. The consistency of set-pieces gives you success.” He underscored the importance of recovering effectively after a poor result, clarifying that their performance against City was not substandard. Santo attributed their strong showing in the recent game to the players’ physical readiness: “It’s very important always to bounce back after a bad result. We didn’t have a bad performance against City. Fresh leg made a difference during the game.” Regarding player Chris Wood, Santo conveyed strong approval, remarking: “He’s doing amazing. We’re so glad to have him. It’s never too late.”