The City Ground moment that sums up how Nuno's Nottingham Forest tenure has changed
One year of Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest and how the picture has changed. It is 12 months to the day since the Portuguese was appointed as head coach at the City Ground. A lot has happened in that time.
Nuno spent his first few months Trentside fighting fires; scrapping for survival and dealing with off-field issues such as a points deductions and refereeing controversies. Now he has the Reds fighting a very different battle - one at the top end of the table that could yet lead to European football.
Not that Nuno or his players will be getting carried away with such talk. The mantra both in interviews and on the training pitch remains to take it one step at a time.
Even so, the transformation from December 20 2023 to one year on is remarkable. And it shows in Nuno, too. He is much more relaxed in press conferences. Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Brentford (3pm kick-off) he made several quips as he took questions from the media and sported a broad smile. That wasn’t the case for much of last season.
Last weekend’s win over Aston Villa epitomised how much things have changed. The manner of the victory showed how Forest have developed a resilience and steely spirit. And for Nuno, the response of Reds fans said much, too. The challenging times of last term has made the good times taste even sweeter.
“Especially speaking about home form, because we have been able to do well at home,” he said. “We have been able to change things a little bit,
“It makes a lot of sense after what we went through. After the last game, I was inside about to start working and I was still listening to our fans singing. It was so good.
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“It is the best you can have - the walk and then two hours after you are in your car going home and you still see people by the bar who spot you. Last season I didn’t cross anyone in the street.
“Things have changed and I truly believe we can still improve. Of course it is much easier and possible to do it under the circumstances where everybody feels things are OK. And when I say everybody, I mean everybody in the club. People are realising that they are important in their own jobs to help.”
Forest are delivering a slice of humble pie to the critics who predicted another relegation battle. Much of that is down to Nuno and having had a full pre-season to work with his players. He has proved to be a superb appointment, and the stage is set for an exciting few months ahead.
