Nottingham Forest prepare for tough test at Leicester City as Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledges the Foxes’ resurgence under Steve Cooper, a manager he has great respect for.
As the two East Midlands rivals face off on Friday night, Cooper’s Leicester appear to be finding their footing, with back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Southampton. The latter, a stunning come-from-behind victory, has given the team a much-needed boost. Nuno, who replaced Cooper at Nottingham Forest last December, is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, praising his predecessor’s accomplishments.
“Steve did an amazing job here at Forest and he will always be remembered by the club, by the fans,” Nuno said. “He achieved something amazing that put us in the Premier League, and we are trying to follow the amazing work of Steve.”
Despite Forest’s decent start to the season, currently sitting eighth in the Premier League with just one loss in their opening eight games, Nuno understands that Leicester will be a tough nut to crack. “Tough team, tough match,” he admitted. “They have come from two good performances and two good results, it’s not easy to achieve back-to-back wins in the Premier League. They have done it. That should tell you that they are in a good moment, playing well.”
The issue of off-field flashpoints, including the suspensions handed to Nuno and the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, may raise concerns, but the manager plays down their significance. “Hopefully not,” he said. “We have to stick to what we can control inside of the pitch. But hopefully, it doesn’t distract us and we keep on being focused and being switched on for what is inside of the pitch.”
With the return of midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White from injury progressively improving, Nottingham Forest will be looking to capitalize on Leicester’s recent resurgence and create a telling moment in the physical and psychological battle between the two sides. Friday’s encounter, however, promises to be a tight and competitive affair, with both coaches and players knowing that every point counts in the quest for a successful season.
