Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has emphasized that his team will adopt a “no-excuses” policy for their upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester United on Tuesday. This comes after Forest’s draining FA Cup quarter-final match against Brighton, which they won on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Forest’s victory at the Amex Stadium has set up a semi-final meeting with Manchester City. Despite the physical demands of the match, Nuno expects his team to continue their push for Champions League football without pause.
“We’re going to go. We’ll assess the players, we’ll prepare for the game, and we’re going to compete,” Nuno said on Monday. “No excuses. Don’t give anyone excuses.”
Forest is currently third in the Premier League, five points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea with just nine games remaining. A top-five finish is likely to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Nuno acknowledged the challenges posed by the short turnaround between matches but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover and perform against Manchester United.
“These short turnarounds are all about recovering, and fortunately, the match is in the evening, so it will give us the day to finalize the details, so we will be OK,” he said.
The fitness of prolific striker Chris Wood remains a concern ahead of the match against Manchester United. Wood missed the victory over Brighton due to a hip injury sustained on international duty for New Zealand.
“He is improving. He’s getting better day by day. We have to assess him day by day,” Nuno said. “It’s all about him being pain-free and then getting back to fitness. He has a big contusion. It’s very painful.”
As Forest prepares to face Manchester United, Nuno’s “no-excuses” policy will be put to the test. With their Champions League ambitions on the line, Forest will need to dig deep and find the energy to compete against a strong Manchester United side.