Vitor Pereira
Nottingham Forest secured a vital 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, propelling them six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. The win was marred by an injury to Morgan Gibbs-White, who suffered a deep cut during the match. Striker Taiwo Awoniyi was instrumental in the victory, scoring twice, with an Igor Jesus penalty sandwiched between his goals.
Vitor Pereira said: “I’m waiting. Gibbs-White has a deep cut but he is a fighter and has a strong mentality. I hope our medical department can do magic to put him in condition to play. We will see. I said to him: ‘You don’t need to head the ball just to play’. We will see. He is speaking normally, he remembers everything. The only thing is the pain – we will see.”
Vitor Pereira continued: “I spoke with Zach in the dressing room. I think he is OK.”
Vitor Pereira added: “I know very well my players. I work with them every day. I did the same when we went to Midtjylland and they performed very well. For me, I tried to balance the energy of the team. We have some injuries. I decided to give 45 minutes to some, because 45 minutes we can recover in three days to be fit for the game against Aston Villa. I said to my players, I can change them but I cannot change the spirit of this team. They are playing with confidence, unity and organisation – and ambition to win the game.”
Vitor Pereira concluded: “The only thing I am sad about is the injury to Morgan Gibbs-White. We want to keep our future in our hands – and to do that we have to win games. Today, the players proved again the spirit, the quality and the organisation. I am very happy for my players and the supporters.”
Nottingham Forest’s victory was a testament to their depth and resilience, as Pereira made eight changes to the starting lineup, resting key players like Gibbs-White for upcoming fixtures. Despite these changes, the team’s fringe players delivered a commendable performance, showcasing their ability to step up when called upon. The win against Chelsea not only boosts their confidence but also reinforces their determination to maintain Premier League status. As the season progresses, the focus will remain on managing player fitness and maintaining the momentum gained from this significant victory.
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