Football, it transpires, is not rocket science. If it were, Nottingham Forest would not be close to securing Premier League survival and two games from Champions League football next season. The club’s approach could hardly be described as methodical but whether by accident or design, Vítor Pereira, Forest’s fourth head coach in six months, has found the right formula.
When eight changes to the lineup were announced for Monday’s visit to Chelsea, eyebrows were raised as the second string were sent out. It allowed Pereira to rest others for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Aston Villa. Within two minutes they were ahead and by the hour they were out of sight and a further step towards salvation thanks to a third away win in a row.
Others will point to different significant victories but the one at Stamford Bridge showed Pereira has everyone in the squad firing. It was Taiwo Awoniyi’s second start of the season and he hit a double, and Luca Netz made his full debut but there was nothing to indicate that in his performance. Keeping everyone in the squad happy in a world of egos is difficult to do but Pereira is an astute man-manager who makes a conscious effort to speak daily to each player to ensure they know their value within the machine.
Victory at Chelsea made it seven without defeat in the league – and 10 in all competitions – after he lost his first two league games, leaving Forest six points above the drop zone with three matches remaining. Impressive away thrashings of Tottenham and Sunderland showed the greater thrust Forest have under Pereira. There have been two defeats in Europe but Forest have still made it through the ties, and have a one-goal lead going to Villa Park.
Trying to find a secret in Pereira’s arsenal is difficult. He is affable and known for being able to change things quickly through maximum effort. At Wolves last season, seven points were collected in his first three games, leading them towards safety. This is achieved by instilling trust and belief and his young Forest squad have been impressed by his tactical intuition. Omari Hutchinson has found form after a slow start to the season, having been embraced by the new staff. Pereira’s in-game switches have astounded the hierarchy, helping to transform the match against Burnley. Forest were 1-0 down at half-time and won 4-1.
In recent weeks Pereira has selected two strikers, aided by Chris Wood’s return to fitness. Igor Jesus has started alongside the New Zealand international, creating a highly successful partnership. This has resulted in Morgan Gibbs-White, who felt restrained by Sean Dyche’s methods but has bloomed in the spring under Pereira, embracing the pressure of leading his team forward through goals and assists and by setting an example for work rate. Few will doubt his desire to play on Thursday, despite the nasty facial injury sustained at Chelsea.
Dyche had done a good job at Forest but the players did not appreciate his methods and were keen to change. Pereira wanted the role, aided by a previous relationship with the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, because he knew the opportunity to manage the talent available was one unlikely to come up again, especially after being let down by Wolves’ summer recruitment. Dyche did what he had to, settling things down after a tumultuous start to the season, whereas Pereira wanted to offer greater freedom. Forest are the highest scorers in the league since the Portuguese’s arrival, with 19 in nine matches, and have the third-best defence and would sit sixth over the period, according to Goalpoint. Under Pereira, Forest have scored 8.02 goals above xG, arguably a result of the increase in confidence and risk-taking.
Pereira is heavily reliant on his staff to do most of the work on the training ground. They are on the pitch to make sure every detail is right and nothing is missed by the group, knowing the minor details can be the most important. It is a primus inter pares approach to management. “Kudos to the manager and the staff – not only the people on the ground but the nutritionists, the physio,” Awoniyi said after beating Chelsea. “It’s all about the team and looking forward to the next game. I believe it could be an amazing season for us.” The Nigerian’s words offer an insight into the collective mentality groomed by Pereira.
Forest are building momentum, belief providing the foundations. The players are confident in the management and vice versa, not something previously said this season. Nuno Espírito Santo was irked by slow recruitment, Ange Postecoglou failed to build a relationship with the squad amid terrible results and Dyche was effective but his personality grated.
Pereira’s first game was in Istanbul against his former club Fenerbahce, where Forest laid down a marker with a superb 3-0 win. He is 90 minutes from returning to the Turkish city he once called home again for the Europa League final and the chance to battle it out for silverware and Champions League qualification. As in politics, the battle at Forest is to maintain unity but Pereira is doing it in the short term, and triumphing on Thursday night would help fortify them for the long term.