Vítor Pereira Returns to Familiar Ground with Nottingham Forest Mission
Vítor Pereira, the newly appointed manager of Nottingham Forest, is confident he can instill courage into his players as they prepare for their Europa League playoff first leg against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. This match marks the beginning of life under their fourth manager of the season, with Pereira taking charge at one of his 13 former clubs, where he has deep connections from previous managerial spells.
Pereira's Istanbul Homecoming and Early Challenges
As Pereira concluded his pre-match media duties at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, his assistant Luís Miguel Moreira da Silva awaited him at the tunnel entrance. "Let's go?" he said, signaling the start of Pereira's first assignment with Forest. The squad followed them onto the pitch, stepping into a venue Pereira knows well from his time managing Fenerbahce, most recently in 2021, though without winning trophies during his stints in the city.
Pereira is acutely aware of the challenges in Turkey, and he has briefed his players thoroughly. Despite the chaotic rush-hour traffic that delayed Forest's police escort from Sabiha Gokcen airport, the evening felt relatively calm compared to the intense atmosphere expected during the match. This game comes amid a turbulent season for Forest, who qualified for Europe for the first time since 1995-96 but have faced managerial changes and inconsistent form.
Forest's Season of Turmoil and Pereira's Confidence
Nottingham Forest's journey in the Europa League reflects their chaotic season. It began with Nuno Espírito Santo's excitement about facing Porto last August, followed by Sean Dyche's first match in charge in October, early promise under Ange Postecoglou at Real Betis, and Dyche's last win—a 4-0 victory over Ferencvaros. Now, Pereira aims to quiet the noise and stabilize the team.
When asked about coping with the loud atmosphere from the stands, Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White emphasized focusing on the game. "Just to try and block it out as much as you can," he said. "It's going to be loud, but all we can do is focus on ourselves. 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."
Pereira's Emphasis on Courage and Early Impact
Pereira believes courage is key and is adamant he can instill it in a squad that has won only three of their last 13 matches in all competitions, with no wins in their past three. Their recent failure to beat Wolves, the Premier League's bottom club, led to Dyche's dismissal by owner Evangelos Marinakis. Pereira, who rescued Wolves last season, is confident of delivering a similar bounce at Forest.
"From the first day you can start to give this energy to them, to pass this energy to them," Pereira said. "I believe that a team absorbs a lot of the personality of the coach or manager. We need to think about the game as an opportunity to show our qualities to prove ourselves and at the end of the game be proud of what we did and what we showed."
Limited Preparation and Positive Early Signs
With only three training sessions, including one upon arrival in Istanbul, Pereira acknowledged the challenge of imparting information quickly. However, he is confident his early messages have resonated. Gibbs-White noted positive signs under the new manager, saying, "I think all of the players including myself and the staff are all really excited. I think as players you get used to change, because some players come and go, managers come and go. It is important for us as players to stick together in these moments. Since the new manager has come in it has been really exciting, he's been really clear about what he wants us to do."
Fenerbahce's Strong Form and Pereira's Nostalgia
Fenerbahce, under Domenico Tedesco, are in strong form, unbeaten in the Super Lig and aiming for a 29th league title. Their squad includes players like Ederson, Marco Asensio, Nélson Semedo, and recent addition N'Golo Kanté. Their only home defeats this season were to Aston Villa in January and rivals Besiktas in the Turkish Cup.
Pereira, who reached a Turkish Cup final with Fenerbahce in 2016, was warmly received by local journalists, who requested selfies. "It is a pleasure to be here, an honour, I have very great memories of the stadium, the supporters, the people, the club," he said. "I'm very happy to be here again and I hope we can enjoy the game. I'm expecting a game with quality, a lot of talent inside the pitch, with two teams that want to play in a good way and with quality—and a fantastic atmosphere, for sure."
