Nuno Espirito Santo Says Southampton Will Provide a Tough Challenge for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is bracing himself for a tough match against bottom-of-the-league Southampton, citing their impressive performance against Manchester United as a warning sign.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo addressed the media in his latest press conference, ahead of the club's match against Southampton. Nuno was asked about Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's long-term contract and whether this could signal a change in how contracts are signed in the Premier League. In response, Nuno expressed uncertainty, saying: “I don't know if it is a tendency for the future. The PSR, the impact on that I'm not sure.”

Nuno then shifted his focus to his own team, providing a positive update on their current state. When asked if the previous game against Liverpool had given him a selection headache, Nuno replied: “It gives me the same dilemma as I have every game, trying to figure out the best decisions and solutions for the game.” He also revealed that the squad is largely healthy, with several players returning to fitness. “We have almost every player available, healthy squad. Assessing from the preview game. Danilo coming back, Ibrahim (Sangare) closer. Healthy squad,” Nuno said.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is anticipating a challenging match against Southampton, despite the latter's position at the bottom of the league. Nuno highlighted Southampton's impressive performance against Manchester United, saying: “I think they competed very well yesterday. We watched the game, we analysed. That shows credit to them in the position they are being able to compete...” This display has left Nuno expecting a tough test for his team on Sunday.

Looking ahead to our clash against Southampton on Sunday. 💬

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 17, 2025

Nuno emphasized the importance of preparation and analysis ahead of the match, given the unpredictability of the outcome. “We expect a very tough game on Sunday,” he said. “We don't know how the game (will turn out). So we have to prepare. Analyse Southampton, they have good players.” By acknowledging Southampton's strengths and preparing accordingly, Nuno hopes to lead his team to a positive result.