Nottingham Forest found themselves in an unfamiliar situation just before the international break, which may prove to be a useful learning experience as they gear up for the Premier League’s return. Their 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the City Ground was only their second loss of the season, but it highlighted a significant mental challenge. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo described the result as a “surprise” during his pre-match press conference ahead of their Saturday encounter with Arsenal.
Nuno is keen to avoid a repeat of this scenario, particularly if his team falls behind in future matches. Before the Newcastle loss, Forest had only trailed in a league game twice this season. Despite the defeat, they still boast the best record for the least time spent behind in the league, with only 107 minutes. In contrast, their weekend opponents, Arsenal, have spent 130 minutes trailing, which is the second-best record.
With tough fixtures against Manchester City and Manchester United following the Arsenal match, Nuno’s side could once again find themselves chasing the game. However, the manager is not overly focused on this possibility. “This was a new challenge for us,” he said, reflecting on their struggle to catch up against Newcastle. “It was the first time we faced a team that could do many of the things we do.”
He emphasized the importance of staying composed when trailing, urging his players to avoid losing balance and becoming vulnerable to counterattacks. “It’s about maintaining that balance between pushing for a result and staying defensively organized to avoid being caught off guard,” Nuno explained. “It’s not easy.”
When asked if the coaching staff addressed this issue during the international break, Nuno humorously responded, “We looked at it after five minutes.” He went on to add, “We’re working on a solution, but hopefully, it doesn’t happen again. The players need to manage it on the field. It was a new situation, and I think we rushed it—we still had time. We got unbalanced too soon.”
Nuno noted that while having experienced players is an advantage, the key is understanding the game’s momentum and not being caught by surprise again.
Looking ahead to their match against Arsenal, Forest will aim to cause an upset. A positive result would not be a huge surprise, given their impressive away form this season, which includes victories at Liverpool and draws with Chelsea and Brighton.
True to his nature, Nuno remained level-headed in the build-up to the game. He avoided overreacting to the home loss or becoming overly optimistic about Forest’s current fifth-place standing. He stressed the importance of staying “humble” and reiterated that he does not focus on the league table. When asked about his team’s belief ahead of facing Arsenal, Nuno’s response was resolute. “We always believe we can compete,” he said, showcasing his confidence. “That’s our approach.”
