Vitor Pereira
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira praised his team’s outstanding performance as they secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Sunderland. This emphatic win at the Stadium of Light propelled Forest eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with just four games remaining. Goals from Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, and an own goal by Trai Hume set the stage for a memorable outing, with Elliot Anderson adding the final touch in second-half stoppage time. The victory has intensified the pressure on relegation rivals West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are set to play on Saturday.
Vitor Pereira said: “In my opinion, it isn’t enough. We need more points and we need to keep our mentality. We cannot relax. Our Champions League is the Premier League. To play the games that we have to play, we need to play at a Champions League level. We need to prove that we deserve to be in the Premier League next season. I asked my team to play in the level of the Champions League, because the Premier League is our Champions League. I said to them, to win in this stadium against Sunderland who are 10 points above us, means we need to play at our best level. We finished the game with one more goal and we didn’t concede – in this moment, that is very important for us.”
Vitor Pereira continued: “We are in a moment where mentally and tactically we are strong. We don’t have fear. I told the players we didn’t have anything to lose today, just to win. In the end, we deserved the result. I tried to be calm but in the end I am very happy with the team. That is why I have given them two days off, not one day. It is difficult to imagine 5-0. We did everything.”
The victory against Sunderland marks a significant step in Nottingham Forest’s fight for Premier League survival. Pereira’s emphasis on maintaining a Champions League-level mentality underscores the team’s determination to remain in the top flight. With the pressure mounting on their relegation rivals, Forest’s recent form could prove pivotal in their quest to secure safety. The additional day off granted by Pereira reflects his satisfaction with the team’s efforts and serves as a morale booster as they prepare for the remaining fixtures.
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