Nuno Espirito Santo has already achieved plenty at Nottingham Forest this season alone, but Tuesday’s trip to Manchester United will give him the opportunity to match an icon of the club.
The Portuguese boss’ work this season has made him a favourite amongst fans and Forest Legends alike, with icons such as Stuart Pearce calling Espirito Santo’s appointment a masterstroke.
It was always going to be difficult to follow Steve Cooper who was clearly a popular figure at the City Ground, but the 51-year-old’s efforts to push the Reds to the brink of Champions League qualification have left him etching his own slice of Forest history.
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Espirito Santo is in the manager of the year conversation and rightfully so but before that, he has a chance to emulate one of Brian Clough’s Forest achievements with a win against United.
Nottingham Forest can complete a historic double over Manchester United
Near the start of their remarkable run at the end of 2024, Forest beat United at Old Trafford, in an action-packed 3-2 victory.
It was Forest’s first win at Old Trafford since the 1994/95 season when Frank Clark led Pearce and co to a 2-1 victory. Clearly, then, United are a difficult foe for Forest in any era, with the last time a league double was secured over the Red Devils seen when Clough was in the dugout.
Back in the 1991/92 season, a Nigel Clough goal saw Forest win at the City Ground in March, followed up with another 2-1 victory at Old Trafford to earn a famous double.
If Forest win tonight…
Nuno Espírito Santo will become the first Nottingham Forest manager since Brian Clough to do the league DOUBLE over Manchester United 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WF69Kr1OPt
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2025
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Espirito Santo therefore has the chance to replicate this with a win at home on Tuesday night and judging by how the first meeting of the season went, there is every chance the Forest manager achieves this.
Nottingham Forest’s efficiency was too much for Manchester United
Ruben Amorim was relatively new to the Premier League when he matched up against Espirito Santo in December and was taught a lesson on how not to handle the ruthless efficiency of his fellow countryman’s tactics.
Statistic Manchester United Nottingham Forest
Possession 71% 29%
Shots on target 7 3
Clearances 5 31
Duels won 47 50
Nottingham Forest’s efficiency at Old Trafford
In the game, Forest only had 29% of the ball which put the honus on Amorim’s side to dictate the tempo, clearly to the advantage of Espirito Santo’s side who picked their opportunities carefully, scoring from all three of their shots on target.
Then defending the lead, the Forest squad were more than happy to clear the ball and watch United attempt to build the play back up again, knowing this style suited them to the ground.
Espirito Santo’s tactics have been hailed this season and the display against United in December was just another example of why. If Amorim’s side come to the City Ground and play in the same way, Forest will simply show off their counterattacking efficiency once more.