Nuno Espírito Santo has defended Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis after the latter’s heated confrontation with the manager on the pitch following their 2-2 draw against Leicester City. The disagreement arose after a late injury to Taiwo Awoniyi, which Nuno described as a frustrating and disappointing moment for the team.
Awoniyi, who had been substituted in the 83rd minute, collided with a post while attempting to score and was visibly struggling to continue. Despite this, Nuno’s coaching staff, along with the medical department, did not immediately replace the striker, allowing Forest to play the final stages of the match with one man less. The failure to act quickly was described as a misunderstanding between the staff and the medical team.
The manager explained that the situation led to frustration, particularly because of the missed opportunity to secure fifth place in the Premier League, which would have kept their Champions League aspirations alive. However, Nuno emphasized that the passion and ambition of the club’s owner played a major role in Forest’s growth as a team. He stated that Marinakis’ desire for success had been vital to the club’s progress, noting that 30,000 fans shared the same level of frustration and passion, and were likely to have expressed similar frustration if given the chance.
Marinakis, who has been heavily involved in Nottingham Forest’s operations since taking over the club, issued a statement later to explain his actions. He acknowledged the frustration felt by everyone involved due to Awoniyi’s injury and the miscommunication regarding his condition, but framed his outburst as a reflection of his intense passion for the club. He reiterated that the outcome of the match was disappointing, but celebrated Forest’s achievement of securing a spot in European competition for the following season, marking the club’s return to the European stage after a 30-year absence.
Despite the confrontation, Nuno chose to focus on the positive aspects of the relationship with his owner. He emphasized that Marinakis’ drive and ambition were key components in Nottingham Forest’s resurgence and the team’s continued development. Nuno also made it clear that they would learn from the incident and strive to improve their communication between the medical and coaching teams in the future.
Criticism of Marinakis’ conduct came from former England defender Gary Neville, who called the confrontation “scandalous.” Neville suggested that Nuno should have confronted the owner strongly, given that Marinakis’ actions appeared to undermine the manager in front of the fans. The heated exchange, which was witnessed by the supporters in the stands, left some questioning the owner’s approach, especially considering the club had already secured a place in European competition for the next season.
Marinakis’ history of passionate involvement in the club includes a prior incident earlier in the season when he was banned for five matches after spitting on the floor near match officials following a defeat to Fulham. Despite this disciplinary issue, Forest’s legal team confirmed that there would be no further sanctions stemming from his recent actions on the pitch.
This incident, although tense, highlights the pressure and high stakes surrounding the club’s ambitions. With Forest’s qualification for European football, the focus now shifts to ensuring that such internal disagreements do not distract from the team’s future goals. The coming weeks will likely determine how the club handles this latest episode in their ongoing journey back to prominence.
