Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has hit back at Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s remarks about the financial investment behind Forest’s success, insisting that “money doesn’t play football.” Slot had earlier suggested that Forest’s rise to prominence this season was largely due to their heavy spending. As the two teams prepare to meet at the City Ground, Forest are on a six-match winning streak and have the chance to close the gap to league leaders Liverpool to just three points with a victory.
While Slot acknowledged the quality of Nuno’s team, he attributed their success to the financial resources they’ve invested. However, Nuno refuted this claim, emphasizing that his focus is on the players themselves rather than the money spent on them. “I don’t pay attention to the spending or the value,” Nuno said. “It’s about seeing the player as a person and finding ways to improve them. Money doesn’t play football, people do.”
On the topic of whether his side is in the title race, Nuno dismissed the idea as premature. “It’s all about ‘ifs,’ and we can’t focus on that,” he remarked. “Our priority is to compete and continue to improve as a team. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we’ll stay focused on preparing for the next game, not the hypothetical.”
Nuno also downplayed the surprise factor of Forest’s performance this season, noting that while their success may have raised eyebrows early on, it’s now a testament to the hard work and dedication of his players. “At the start of the season, maybe it was unexpected, but a lot has changed. No one could have predicted where we are now, and it’s thanks to the players’ commitment and ambition.”
