The scheduling of Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Brighton and Hove Albion has not gone down well with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
Tonight’s tie at the Amex Stadium (5.15pm kick-off) is a huge game for the Reds. They are one win away from a trip to Wembley and their first semi-final appearance in the competition since 1991.
But this weekend’s cup matches take place just a few days after many players will have linked back up with their clubs from being on international duty. Forest had 14 members of the first-team squad away with their countries over the past fortnight, while they also have an important Premier League clash at home to Manchester United to come on Tuesday evening (8pm kick-off).
Asked if the Football Association had done enough to protect the world’s oldest cup competition, Nuno said: "I don't understand the reasons behind the decisions of us playing. Not only us, but look at Fulham and Crystal Palace playing at 12.15 on Saturday, so an even shorter period of time and it's very difficult.
"I don't know the reasons behind the decision and I don't acknowledge what was there. In terms of preparation for the club, it's very hard.
"The schedule is very difficult. It's very difficult. It's not easy to return from an international break and then play such an important game on a Saturday when you don't have any time at all.
"What we do is try to create our own routines for the players that were here and worked very hard during the week. We create this programme so the players who come back can be integrated into the flow of the group. This is how we approach it."
Forest will be without striker Chris Wood on the south coast due to the hip injury he sustained while playing for New Zealand. Meanwhile, Nuno will have selection calls to make on the likes of Ramon Sosa (Paraguay), Murillo (Brazil) and Ola Aina (Nigeria) after they returned to the City Ground late in the week from their national camps.
Nuno places great importance on the FA Cup. Forest have Champions League qualification in their sights courtesy of their stunning form in the league, but that does not make their meeting with the Seagulls any less of a priority.
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Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Premier League and Reds fans are dreaming of a return to European competition. It has been an outstanding campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who are on course for a place in the Champions League next season. And Forest supporters can whet their appetite for a possible return to football’s top tier on the continent with our 48-page special edition celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
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“Since the beginning of the FA Cup, we have had only one ambition and that is to go as far as possible. This is what we have today. We want to go as far as possible,” Nuno said. “For that, we must compete well at Brighton.
“In terms of the bond between fans and the squad, it is growing; it is getting stronger. There is a natural belief on both sides that we can do anything, as long as we keep our same approach and work as hard as we can.
“I think the fans are recognising that our players give it everything they have on the pitch. That is what should make us proud.”
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