Nottingham Forest’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Aston Villa at the City Ground has sparked widespread acclaim, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo praising his team’s “amazing reaction” in the face of adversity.
The Reds trailed 1-0 after Jhon Duran’s opener, but Nikola Milenkovic’s equalizer and Anthony Elanga’s late winner sealed a stunning turnaround that propelled Forest into fourth place in the Premier League table.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s post-match comments were characteristically measured, but he couldn’t hide his admiration for his team’s resilience and determination. “We are competing against all the teams in the Premier League,” Nuno said. “It’s not about that, it’s about preparing for the next one, focusing on the task ahead of you and realising that you didn’t achieve anything.“
The Portuguese manager was keen to emphasize the importance of enjoying the victory, but also stressed the need to remain focused on the challenges ahead. “Today is a big moment, let’s enjoy it together – all the fans and players. But we know that Brentford next is going to be so tough. We are now trying to work on that; that is what is most important, game by game.“
Nuno also revealed that he would reward his players with an extra day off following their “amazing reaction” against Aston Villa. “It says a lot about the character, especially after what happened in the game,” he added. “I think it means a lot for Anthony. We have been asking for more actions from him.“
The victory over Aston Villa was a testament to Nottingham Forest’s growing confidence and self-belief, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s leadership has been instrumental in fostering this positive team dynamic.
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