Senior players at Nottingham Forest are reportedly fighting to keep harmony in the squad following the fallout between manager Nuno Espirito Santo and owner Evangelos Marinakis. The club was rocked last week when Nuno, who led Forest to a seventh-place finish and European football last season, said his relationship with the Greek businessman had deteriorated.
The Portuguese boss said in a press conference that he no longer had a "very good relationship" with Marinakis and didn't know about his future at the club. He later denied that he was planning to resign, but the owner was said to be baffled by the outburst. The fallout dominated the build-up to Forest's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday, where a second-half goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi rescued a point for the visitors.
According to Sky Sports News, senior squad players are now determined to behave as if it is 'business as usual' at the club. The events of the past week have appeared to impact squad stability, with a number of stars said to be affected by the public fallout.
Marinakis, 58, has always been adamant that disagreements among club personnel are discussed in private. Nuno's speaking out so candidly has reportedly left him feeling angry at what he considers a betrayal of trust.
Despite describing suggestions he would quit the club as "absurd," the future of the former Wolves and Tottenham man remains the subject of intense speculation. He only signed a new three-year deal this summer, taking him through to the summer of 2028.
That means he would be eligible for a sizeable payoff if he were to be sacked from his role. Indeed, many pundits have perceived his comments as an attempt to be axed, despite Nuno now implying he wants clear-the-air talks with Marinakis and the club's Global Head of Football, Edu.
The appointment of the ex-Arsenal chief has led to tension between him and Nuno. He's expected to remain in charge for Sunday's home game with West Ham, Forest's last before the international break.
Having been 17th in the 2023/24 season, Nuno last year led Forest to their highest Premier League finish since the 1994/95 campaign. However, the achievement was tainted by their failure to land Champions League football, having been in the top five for much of the season before faltering in the final weeks.