Nuno: No Excuses for Nottingham Forest Ahead of Manchester United Clash

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his team will not make excuses for their performance against Manchester United, despite a quick turnaround after their FA Cup quarter-final match.

Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of Nottingham Forest, has vowed that his team will not make excuses ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester United on Tuesday. Forest is coming off a physically demanding FA Cup quarter-final match against Brighton, which they won on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

The victory at the Amex Stadium secured Forest's spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will face Manchester City. Despite the exertions of the cup match, Nuno is adamant that his team will not use fatigue as an excuse for their performance against Manchester United. The Forest boss revealed that every player in his squad is being assessed ahead of the United match, but he expects whoever is available to maintain their push for Champions League qualification without hesitation.

"Beautiful place to be and play football." ❤️

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 31, 2025

Nottingham Forest, two-time European champions, have not participated in the Champions League since 1980. However, they are currently third in the Premier League, five points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea with just nine games remaining. With a top-five finish likely to secure a spot in next season's Champions League, Forest's clash with Manchester United takes on added significance.

Nuno Espirito Santo emphasized that his Nottingham Forest team will not make excuses for their performance against Manchester United, despite the quick turnaround after their FA Cup quarter-final match against Brighton. “No excuses. Don't give anyone excuses,” Nuno stated on Monday. “We're going to go. We'll assess the players, we'll prepare for the game and we're going to compete.”

Nuno acknowledged the challenge posed by the short turnaround but expressed confidence in his team's ability to recover and perform against a strong Manchester United side. “It's very difficult on the players but they are recovering well. They are always being positive so we are confident we can perform against a good team.” He also noted that the evening kickoff would provide additional time for preparation.

Focus turns to tomorrow. 👊 pic.twitter.com/IdCFsxiPWg

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 31, 2025

The availability of striker Chris Wood remains uncertain due to a hip injury sustained while on international duty with New Zealand. Nuno provided an update on Wood's condition, saying, “He is improving. He's getting better day by day. We have to assess him day by day.” Wood's recovery hinges on managing the pain from a significant contusion. “It's all about him being pain-free and then getting back to fitness. He has a big contusion. It's very painful.”