Pereira is the Reds’ new head coach, starting work at the club on Monday after agreeing an 18-month deal at the City Ground to replace Sean Dyche
12:25, 16 Feb 2026
Vitor Pereira
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Vitor Pereira(Image: Photo by Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Paul Merson has had his say on Nottingham Forest’s appointment of Vitor Pereira.
Pereira is the Reds’ new head coach, starting work at the club on Monday after agreeing an 18-month deal at the City Ground to replace Sean Dyche.
The Portuguese has already worked under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis in his managerial career, at Olympiacos.
He also has experience of a relegation battle in the Premier League, saving Wolves from the drop last season before being sacked in November.
After taking charge at Molineux in December 2024, Pereira led Wolves to 10 wins in 22 matches to keep them in the top-flight.
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Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: “If he goes with that, you’re safe and that’s what the owner wants.”
“He (Marinakis) doesn’t mess about. He goes with his instincts,” he added.
“And he’s looked at it and he’s gone ‘I’m going to go for this man’.
“I understand this more than the Tottenham one (Spurs appointing Igor Tudor), if I‘m being honest.
“At least he’s (Pereira) managed in the Premier League, he’s been in a relegation battle before, he knows the score, he’ll know how to set up.
“I hope he is thick-skinned enough because when you get the sack as a manager it can dent your confidence.
“For him to come back now, he’s got to come back and he’ll have to sit behind the ball.
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“These players are probably going to the owner of the club wanting to play free-flowing football, but they haven’t earned the right to play free-flowing football, they’re fourth bottom in the league.
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“They need to get back to where Sean Dyche had them, playing off a base. They’re not good enough at the moment, with the confidence to go ‘you have a shot, we have a shot’ in my opinion.
“So if the manager comes in and does that I think they get relegated.”