Vitor Pereira reveals his mantra and makes Nottingham Forest relegation prediction

Vitor Pereira reveals his mantra and makes Nottingham Forest relegation prediction

Vitor Pereira is confident that Nottingham Forest possess the talent to avoid relegation to the Championship—and he “truly believes” they will succeed.

On Monday, the Portuguese head coach, Forest’s fourth managerial appointment in a turbulent season, led his first training session since replacing Sean Dyche. Following the session, Pereira spoke to Forest TV and is scheduled to address the external media ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.

Forest’s first Premier League fixture under Pereira will be a home game against Liverpool on Sunday, February 22. The 57-year-old exuded optimism.

“I am very proud, and it’s an honour to be part of this family—a good team with good feelings. Now it’s time to work,” Pereira said.

“We have excellent conditions to develop, the players have talent, and there are very good individuals here. Now is the moment to start building the identity I want.

“As a manager, it’s crucial that both players and staff buy into the ideas—and into the person delivering them. We are human, mistakes happen, but recognising values and trusting leadership is essential.”

Pereira faces the challenge of instilling his philosophy in a squad that has already adapted to the styles of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Dyche over recent months.

“I understand the players’ perspective—each manager has their own style—but it’s vital they trust the work we’re doing,” he said.

“We began today by explaining our ideas and helping the players feel comfortable in their roles. My goal is to give them the confidence to play freely and express themselves. Leadership is about competence, effort, and creating a positive team spirit. Even a smile can have a powerful impact.”

Pereira emphasized the importance of enjoyment and pride in training:

“We want to foster a family-like environment where everyone feels happy and proud of their work. If we play a match without quality, I won’t be satisfied. I want to see team spirit, effort, and fearless competition, combined with quality. Players need the freedom to express themselves.”

Despite challenging conditions in his first session—cold and rainy—Pereira was impressed by the squad’s ability.

“The quality is already there. Sometimes players need confidence to make mistakes and try again. Right now, we need to believe in ourselves as a team. It’s not about speeches; daily hard work is what matters.”

With matches coming thick and fast, Pereira acknowledges the need for intelligent preparation:

“We can’t change everything due to the schedule, but I believe we can build something strong together. Our shared challenge is to play at our best in the present, not worry about the future.

The players showed today they want to play good football and win. I’m confident we can achieve the points we need and maintain the quality they’ve shown before.”

He concluded by underlining the importance of collective effort:

“Success comes through teamwork. The team includes players, supporters, staff—everyone in the club. By working together, we can achieve our targets.”