Nottingham Forest kicked off their English Premier League (EPL) 2025/26 campaign with a 3-1 home victory over Brentford. But the real test begins now as they prepare for their first away fixture of the season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on August 24, 2025.Their opponents, Crystal Palace, had a mixed start to the season. They earned a valuable point at Stamford Bridge in a goalless draw with Chelsea, a result that many considered a strong performance given the opposition.
They followed it up with a crucial 1-0 victory over Norwegian side Fredrikstad FK in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off clash.
That win has given the Eagles some momentum, and returning to Selhurst Park, they will be desperate to notch their first league win of the season in front of their passionate home fans. Forest, therefore, know they will face a tough challenge.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo addressed the media in his pre-match press conference.
He spoke candidly about several topics, including his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis, the situation at the club regarding transfers, and his assessment of the upcoming clash with Palace.
“Our relationship has changed”
Nuno admitted that his relationship with Marinakis is not as strong as it was last season. The Portuguese manager reflected on how he and the owner were in regular contact throughout the last campaign, but that has changed significantly this year.
"I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis.
"This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close," he said.
“Different opinions at the club”
The Forest boss also hinted that there are contrasting views within the club. He admitted that this shift has left him uncertain about the future of his working relationship with the owner.
“Didn't know why it had changed. Everyone should be together but this is not the reality. Different opinions at the club. Unsure if the relationship can continue," Nuno further added, pointing towards tensions that could potentially affect the club if not resolved.
Nuno also spoke about Forest’s opponents, highlighting their quality and the difficult circumstances surrounding this fixture.
Palace, last season’s FA Cup winners, initially secured a place in the UEFA Europa League. However, they were demoted to the Europa Conference League after UEFA sanctioned them for breaching multi-club ownership rules.
Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the league last season, were later granted entry into the Europa League after submitting clarification requests to UEFA.
Palace chairman Steve Parish was vocal in his criticism, blaming Forest for their demotion. That episode has created a tense backdrop for Sunday’s clash.
"What happened [to Palace in Europe] it is not right to blame us but I expect a tough atmosphere on Sunday. The team has to be brave and focus on the game against a tough opponent," Nuno said, acknowledging the possibility of a hostile reception.
“Squad not complete yet”
Turning to transfers, Nuno discussed Forest’s remaining requirements. The Reds recently completed the loan signing of midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus. However, the manager insisted that his squad still lacks depth in key areas.
"The squad is nearer but it is not complete yet. We need another option for the goalkeeper and in the full backs we need more as well," he admitted. He also explained that different new signings are being assessed at different paces.