Vitor Pereira
Vitor Pereira is gearing up for his first match as Nottingham Forest’s manager as the team prepares to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off. The Portuguese coach, appointed on Sunday, has had limited time to work with his squad ahead of Thursday’s clash, which kicks off at 5.45 pm. Pereira is the latest in a series of managers at the City Ground this season, following Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Sean Dyche. Despite the managerial changes, Morgan Gibbs-White remains optimistic about the team’s prospects under Pereira’s guidance.
Morgan Gibbs-White said: “As players, you get used to change. It is important for us as players to stick together in these moments. He’s been really clear about what he wants us to do, so we are really excited to play tomorrow. Having a together team out there on the pitch is one of the most important things. I think we’ve got that in abundance in this group. It is just about how we display it on the football pitch. The new manager has given us all the right ideas. He has brought a real positive vibe and energy to the group. We’ve brought in players with quality so it’s just about finding the right balance in the team. We did it last season so why can’t we do it now? The expectations are obviously higher right now and we’ve been through a lot of change. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the togetherness of this group.”
Pereira’s primary objective is to maintain Nottingham Forest’s Premier League status, with 12 games remaining in the season. However, the club’s return to European competition for the first time in three decades adds an extra layer of ambition. Forest is eager to advance to the last 16 of the Europa League, and Pereira’s experience with Fenerbahce could prove invaluable. Having managed the Turkish side twice before, he has prepared his players for the intense atmosphere expected at the Chobani Stadyumu.
Gibbs-White added: “I think all of the players, including myself, and the staff are all really excited. It is another game for us to go and attack. The manager has only been in for a couple of days but it has been really exciting. He has been really clear about what he wants from us and our game-plan tomorrow. We are all excited. It is going to be a massive test. Fenerbahce have been on a brilliant run, so it is going to be a really tough game. It is going to be an incredible night for both teams. They are a tough team to play but we’re excited to get going. I don’t think you can really prepare for an atmosphere, you just have to focus on your game, the team and try to focus on what you can do to help the team as much as possible. It is about focusing on ourselves. Obviously, it’s going to be very loud. All we can do is focus on ourselves. We know we will get support from our fans so it’s an exciting time for them but also for us. It’s been an incredible journey with this club so far. Hopefully, we can bring more good memories to those fans that travel to support us. We can only focus one game at a time but we are really excited about where we can go in this tournament. It’s what we all wanted last year. And now it’s here, it’s playing Thursday-Sunday most weeks. It’s difficult on the legs but it’s what we all wanted so we are going to attack the game tomorrow. We want to win both games, it’s as simple as that. We know it’s going to be tough here with the atmosphere and the run they are on, but we go into both legs wanting to win.”
The match against Fenerbahce represents a significant challenge for Nottingham Forest, given the Turkish side’s impressive form. However, with Pereira’s strategic insights and a squad determined to succeed, Forest is poised to make a strong bid for progression in the Europa League. The team’s focus remains on delivering a solid performance and capitalizing on the opportunity to create lasting memories for their fans.
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