Nottingham Forest’s Tottenham Win: Pereira Urges Focus Despite Relegation Battle
Nottingham Forest manager Vítor Pereira urged his players to maintain a “champion’s mentality” following a decisive 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but cautioned that the result alone will not guarantee Premier League survival.
The win, which represents a significant boost for Forest in their fight against relegation, came as Tottenham’s season continues to falter. Spurs assistant coach Bruno Saltor acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating that the players “cracked under the weight of the game.” Saltor was taking post-match duties after Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor was informed of a family bereavement following the defeat.
“When you win a game, you get confidence,” Pereira said. “When you reach here and you win 3-0, a clean sheet, of course it is something important for confidence. ‘We can, we can, we can.’ The big mistake is thinking that we came here and won and then the next game: ‘We won the [last] game.’ We have seven more games to win. We need to keep the mentality and the team spirit playing as a fighter, feeling like champions inside of us.”
Forest, who have struggled to find the net consistently throughout the season, particularly at their home ground, displayed a potent attacking performance in North London. Pereira emphasized the importance of avoiding complacency and focusing on self-improvement rather than dwelling on the struggles of their rivals. “We cannot create a monster in our minds because sometimes we create one chance and score a goal. It is good for belief because we need to believe in ourselves. It is not about Tottenham, about West Ham, about Leeds, it is about us. It is about what we want for next season. We are alive, we are committed and we are ready to fight.”
Saltor indicated that the coaching staff retains the support of the club and is focused on preparing the team for their next challenge, following the international break. “We sense the support from everyone at the club and we’re just focusing on how we can help players. A lot of players are leaving for the internationals and as soon as they get back, get back on the train, we will get everyone up to speed and prepare for the next game.”
Pereira also highlighted the performance of midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored Forest’s second goal. He expressed disappointment that Gibbs-White was overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate for the recent 35-man squad. “He deserved the national team but it’s not my decision,” Pereira said. “[He is] at this moment a little bit sad and disappointed but these are the moments in our lives when we need to fight.” Gibbs-White, who was previously a target for Tottenham, described the victory as “absolutely huge,” acknowledging the pressure surrounding the match and praising his team’s defensive resilience.
Tottenham, now the only Premier League team without a calendar year victory, will travel to Sunderland for their next league game in three weeks, with Tudor’s position as head coach facing increasing scrutiny.