Nuno Espirito Santo is keen to restore ‘harmony’ at Nottingham Forest after a few days dominated by speculation about his future at the club.
Ahead of the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, the Portuguese had cast doubt on his own position at the City Ground. Admitting his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated, on Friday he had suggested there was ‘no smoke without fire’ in response to rumours that he was at risk of the sack.
In addition to a lack of communication with Marinakis, reports have suggested there is a rift between Nuno and recently-appointed global head of football, Edu. The Forest boss is keen to hold talks with both men in a bid to smooth things over.
“Not only us three, all the club has to come together,” Nuno said. “First of all, let’s try to complete our squad - this is really important in the final days of the transfer window. After these situations, what is important is Forest not the persons.
“We are going to have them (talks). We must, we must.
“What I think is we need to have these conversations, and we are going to have them. This is what I think is more important than anything. The players need it, the squad needs it, the club needs it, we need it. And we are going to have it.
“Everybody wants the best for Forest - me first. All the club wants the best for Forest.
“This is the first time in my career I am facing this situation and being asked these things. It is not helpful, but I believe conflict doesn’t work out. We have to create harmony.”
Asked if he was confident of remaining in post, Nuno replied: “I cannot answer that question. But what I know is that I am working and trying to do my job the best I can.
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“Of course the situation has to be solved. We are responsible people and we are going to have a good conversation to try to create, more than anything, a good platform for what is most important - the team.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi rescued a point for the Reds after they had fallen behind to an Ismaila Sarr strike at Selhurst Park. The draw maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
After Friday’s remarkable press conference in which he discussed rumours about his role, some had suggested Nuno could be trying to engineer his own exit from the City Ground. But he firmly put any such notion to bed when speaking after the full-time whistle in the capital.
“Absolute nonsense. Absurd. This narrative is absurd,” he said. I love what I do. The moment I don’t enjoy it, it is over.
“This is how football is. There are things I cannot control. What comes out, the sacking (rumour), I cannot control.
“What I said - and I had a long think about it - is my concern for the squad. Last season these boys achieved something fantastic. If we as a club don’t help them, in terms of numbers, quality and talent, everything will go.
“What we have ahead of us is Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us? This is the respect we have to show to our squad and help them.”
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